Virtual PBX VoIP Solutions: pros and cons

What is meant by meant by a Virtual PBX VoIP solution?

The concept of a virtual PBX is especially attractive to SMBs. They require a business phone system that delivers all the features available from a modern VoIP PBX, but without:

i. The capital expense.

ii. The hassle and distraction of administering the technology.

iii. Getting locked into either a financial or technology commitment.

To survive and grow SMBs must be agile and responsive. They need to focus on their core business to the exclusion of all distractions. At the same time they need to maintain excellent customer communication.

One of the biggest challenges for SMBs is reconciling these conflicting objectives. In the absence of appropriate technology, many SMBs struggle with their phone systems. Customers and prospective customers are frustrated when their phone calls are not answered, or promptly returned.

Virtual PBX VoIP solutions directly address these challenges. They level the playing field by providing SMBs with access to features that until recently were only available to big business.

See: VoIP PBX solution.

The virtual small business phone service only became an option in recent years with the advent of the VoIP PBX phone system and the widespread availability of broadband IP networks. Until these developments the choices were to either invest in a multi line phone system, a PBX or use an assortment of band-aids : answering machines, answering services, pagers and mobile phones.

See: VoIP PBX Software.

The hub of a virtual PBX service is a hosted VoIP PBX. Hosted VoIP services can support any number of SMB clients irrespective of where they are located. This means that a VoIP virtual PBX service can be scaled up to provide an increasing range of complimentary value adding services.

From the perspective of SMBs the option of using a virtual VoIP business phone system delivers a wide range of benefits:

1. Greatly improved business communications.
2. Levels the playing field when competing with big business.
3. No capital commitment.
4. No requirement to house or administer sophisticated telephone technology.
5. Access to complimentary applications such as voice recording.
6. Reduced cost of communicating with remote offices and agents.
7. Ability to grow or contract as business circumstances change.
8. Flexibility to add, change and delete extensions on demand.
9. Use existing computer network cabling and WiFi friendly.
10. Compatible with the use of other convergent technologies.

The range of services and applications available from providers offering virtual PBX VoIP solutions is increasing as a consequence of developments in technology and competition between providers.

The downside is that some providers don't or can't upgrade their facilities quickly enough to respond to growth. Increasing competition will inevitably result in a shake-out at some point. There is no avoiding the necessity to compare phone services when selecting a partner to provide a hosted or managed business phone service.

See also: The VoIP PBX System - it's a winner at last

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