The VoIP PBX Solution: is it the Tipping Point?

The VoIP PBX solution has achieved respectability. It's estimated that by 2010 some 75% of all business phone systems will be VoIP phone systems. It's a trend that encompasses small, medium and large scale businesses buying either an on-premise VoIP PBX or signing up for a hosted VoIP service.

A decision to buy a trusty TDM PBX at this stage in the technology cycle would be akin to shopping for a PC with an i386 processor and floppy disk drive.

There is a wide of range of choice amongst VoIP PBX options and a high level of competition between the vendors and service providers. In fact the wide spectrum of options is undoubtedly a cause of confusion and inertia amongst many who are looking for new or replacement business phone systems, but don't have the patience to make sense of the jargon.

The challenges confronting the buyer of VoIP PBX solution are similar to those associated with any technology purchase:

1. It's going to be cheaper to buy in the future.


2. Smaller, faster, better models are always coming.

In the end these considerations can't and won't stop us from buying a VoIP PBX solution. With eyes wide open we bought millions of PCs, Macs, video-CD-DVD players, mobile phones and satellite navigation systems. Fortunately with the passage of time we manage to block out consideration of fortunes exchanged for the privilege of being early adopters and the technical shortcomings of those products.

It's going to be the same with VoIP PBX technology, but with the added twist that packet based telephony also shares the life cycle characteristics of software products. VoIP PBX software has caught the attention of players not previously associated with telephony. Microsoft is projecting tens of millions of businesses will be using its Office Communications Server within a few years. Whether that proves to be the case or not, OCS's price and feature set will establish a basis of comparison that will result in the commoditization of the technology.

The transition from TDM PBX technology to VoIP PBX technology is going to be a very fast trip. It will to take a fraction of the time that it took for computer mainframes to be made obsolete by PCs, PC software and open source alternatives.

The pace of adoption has been accelerated by the fact that packet based business phone systems are the obvious missing piece in the modern office. It's not just the expectation of cheaper phone calls, but the promise of voice and data convergence that's driving the trend. Experience suggests that a VoIP PBX solution not only doesn't result in "free phone calls," it may not even reduce the all up cost of telephony. The payback comes from accessing VoIP PBX features that increase productivity, customer service and sales.

Not to be over looked is a mechanism for measuring results. Nothing can be managed that can't be measured. The answer is VoIP Call Accounting Software.

Given the pace of development in VoIP PBX technology the option of using a hosted VoIP business phone service makes sense for many businesses. In addition to side stepping capital expenditure, it's a way of accessing the technology without having to punt on timing, vendors or the ability of employees to manage a new and critical communication technology.

The selection of a hosted VoIP PBX option also eliminates the need to make a decision on the level of scalability that may be required in the future. Projecting future requirements is always a challenge, but especially in the case of a technology that opens doors to new and different ways of using a business phone system. The hosted route leaves all options open in terms of scaling up or down without financial penalty. It also means that technical issues such as the maintenance of voice quality over IP can be left in the hands of professionals.

See: VoIP PBX Phone System - an equalizer for small business.

See also: SIP VoIP PBX System and Cisco VoIP PBX.

Another reason that business is attracted to the hosted VoIP PBX solution is the ability to tap into complimentary applications such as VoIP recording software and call accounting software without making a long term commitment or installing in-premise equipment. Typically these facilities can be added to VoIP subscription plan for a monthly charge per seat. The service providers are keen to offer these applications because they add another revenue stream and increase the stickiness of customer relationships.

See: VoIP Virtual PBX.

While the trend is clear to see, there actually isn't a compelling reason for every business to rush into buying a new VoIP PBX solution as long as existing TDM technology is still supported and does the job asked of it. In particular we have reservations about so called hybrid VoIP PBX systems. Between now and 2010 there will be major developments in packet based telephony. Some well known brands that today dominate PBX technology will elect to leave the field and other players previously not associated with the space may well come to dominate it.

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