Hosted VoIP PBX - Pros and Cons
The virtual or hosted VoIP PBX is rapidly becoming accepted as a practical and cost effective alternative for small business. SMBs have never been well served by telephone companies. The limitations of wire line technology meant that they had to invest in a key system or PBX to help contain their telephone costs. With the advent of IP telephony and virtual PBX services the premise based PBX was no longer essential.
There is still a common assumption by small business owners that every business requires a dedicated PBX or key system. It's not the case, but it will take a while longer before the premise based PBX becomes the exception rather than the norm.
Hosted IP PBX - the Pros
- Significantly cheaper phone services.
- Easily scaled up or down depending on business requirements.
- No up front capital expenditure on equipment.
- Free trial periods to evaluate services.
- If the choice of VoIP business phone service proves to be wrong, it's a decision that can be changed without great disruption or cost.
- A VoIP PBX phone system needs to be managed and maintained. A hosted small business phone service puts these responsibilities in the hands of specialists.
Hosted IP PBX - the Cons
- If the services provided are not as expected or promised - see point 5 above.
- The service provider encounters financial difficulties and goes out of business. As we all know even the banks can go broke, but in the case of a hosted small business phone service it's a very recoverable situation - see point 5 above.
The hosted or managed VoIP option is an ideal VoIP small business solution. While large enterprises usually have the infrastructure and resources in place to manage a VoIP PBX without incurring significant additional cost, SMBs do not.
Related Articles:
Cheap Business Phone Service
VoIP Virtual PBX - the SMB phone system
SIP Trunking Services
Selecting a Small Business Phone Service
Small Business VoIP Service
From Hosted VoIP PBX to VoIP Phone Systems
From Hosted VoIP PBX to Business Phone Tools
