A Guide to Business Phone Systems

By Michael Bustamante

It is amazing how much business phone systems have evolved since their early beginnings. Irrespective of their technological complexity, business phone systems play an instrumental role in the development of any business venture. Unlike most communication channels, phone systems involve the use of a human interface. This particular touch makes every phone system unique for each particular business.



Traditional business phone systems may come in three main configurations: Key System Units or KSU, Private Branch Exchange systems or PBX, and KSU-less phones. Also, any of these traditional phone solutions can be more or less sophisticated depending on the number of extensions your business requires as well as on the features you need. In addition to the classic phone systems, there are systems that use the voice over the Internet protocol technology to allow businesses to make and receive phone calls.



Key System Units or KSU systems are known as the best small business phone system providing phone solutions for 5 to 40 employees. The Key System Unit allows the access to multiple lines and a variety of call handling features which can be customized according to each business. This is the ideal small business phone system although the technical features included nowadays in KSU systems may create confusion with the more complex PBX business phone systems. More than often, phone systems resembling both KSU and PBX systems are referred to as hybrid.



PBX business phone systems have been designed to handle calls for larger companies, employing more than 40 people. Unlike a small business phone system, the PBX is defined by advanced functionality using telephone hardware and switches to handle and route calls. The PBX systems can support any implementations you may desire and all features are programmable as per your requirements and expectations. Amazingly, despite the superiority of such a phone system, the PBX is not much more expensive than other less adaptable business phone systems.



The KSU-less phones system is recommended as a viable very small business phone system. That is to say that the system will provide an efficient phone handling solution for a company with less than 10 employees. The system does not require a central unit although phones can communicate with each other as well as separately. It is the less advanced of all business phone systems.



Among the business phones systems which any enterprise can opt for there is also the relatively new VoIP business phone system. This is atypical in the sense that it doesn’t use the typical phone handling routes. You may choose an IP PBX system which involves installing hardware at your office while the functioning will very much resemble wither the traditional PBX or KSU systems. You may also decide to process calls at a data center before forwarding them to a direct extension at your location. Irrespective of whether you need a small business phone system or a far more complex phone handling solution, you need to make certain that you explore and understand all options before making any purchasing decision.



About the Author: Simon Roach is an business phone systems specialist and member of Stanford Who's Who Business Social Network



Source: www.isnare.com

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