Small Business Phone Systems
What You Need To Know

How about starting with an overview of the different types of Small Business Phone Systems and how they fit in with business VoIP phone service?

By the way, see my business IP phone systems page for more info on phone systems for business that include a deeper dive into virtual or hosted PBX and turn-key provider based business VoIP phone service.

Premised Based Business Phone System PBX

• Premise based small business phone systems – here we have phone systems such as PBX or a Key System (a small phone system), basically a box (computer really, I mean all this stuff is merging together, it's hard to tell what's what anymore) that we're going to install at our business location.
• This option is for VoIP phone service decision makers that desire to own their small business phone systems equipment, want to be able to see it and touch it (and have it get hit by lighting, or stolen or burned up in a fire … also we have to pay for maintenance contracts and a bunch of other stuff that can be avoided in some other flavors of VoIP – read on).

  • So this business phone system PBX will be "IP enabled" or "IP ready" one of the advantages of an IP PBX is if we want Direct Inward Dial numbers. DID is a big advantage that allows callers calling INTO your business to call people or departments DIRECTLY without having to go through an attendant.
  • We can generally do DID with an IP ready business phone system PBX without having to buy some of the T1 card stuff we'd have to with a "non-IP PBX". Saves a little money and at the same time, lets us leverage VoIP phone service if it makes sense for us.

Maybe you have a view or experience as either an end user or service provider you'd like to share? If so, click here to jump to the form that will let us know

Want a good phone or computer firm? I've personally worked with a lot of these folks from all over the country. Click below:

Hosted Small Business
PBX Phone Systems

• Hosted PBX – Well I have a couple of articles on Small Business Phone Systems of this type, see business IP phone systems and affordable business phone systems , but if you must know right now, then here it is <;-)

  • Hosted PBX (not to be confused with Virtual PBX) is a set of features and phone lines if you will that are "in the cloud" meaning INSIDE the network (Internet)
  • We don't have a box on premise, just IP handsets and maybe a "magic black box" that sits in front of our router on our Internet pipe to do traffic shaping and make sure the Voice over IP packets get priority to and from the internet so we sound good.
  • So the service, your dial tone, all features and voice mail, etc are delivered through your internet connection. Great stuff if you'd like to avoid having to pay up front for equipment, avoid having to maintain it, and assure your small business phone systems basically never become obsolete. Super TCO and ROI, so check out the links above or below to read more for this kind of business phone system PBX. If you want a customized proposal for this type of thing, check out my contact E-Dude page, I've helped many firms choose the best hosted VoIP providers

So how about hosted VoIP? Maybe you have a view or experience as either an end user or service provider you'd like to share? If so, click here and let me know!

A couple of good "one size fits all" hosted deals are below (I've kicked the tires and driven them around the block) , but get a hold of me if you have a more complex need.

Alternatly you can use this "VoIP best rates" finder to find the best plans for your personal or business needs. Click here to jump to the rate finder.

Makes It Seem Simple, Huh?

Now, I really have simplified it here – gee, small business phone systems at your location, or out on the internet (virtual PBX). But unless you're a really small business, and only going to have a couple of phones, this is basically the extent of it.

Are you a Small Business less than 4 lines? Visit my SOHO corner for lots of great ideas. My personal picks for a few lines and IP phones are here

Let me say here that if you're not going to be using VoIP right now, then you'll be buying wire line service from a "phone company" whereas if you ARE going to be using VoIP, then you'll need a good internet connection and want to avoid VoIP problems, click here to understand the issues. .

To test an existing internet connection to see if it will support VoIP, check out my Broadband Connection Test page here.

You'll also be using SIP trunking most likely to bring the calls into your business phone system PBX. Imagine SIP trunks as virtual phone lines coming across your internet pipe and connecting your business to the rest of the world. Providers of SIP trunking many times also sell the internet service, it is generally wise to buy it this way, as you only have "one throat to choke" if it's not working.

Comparison shop for SIP below.

Well, that's basically it for the types of small business phone systems, although I'm sure many would argue otherwise, especially the folks who make this stuff, as they sometimes seem to complicate it as well.

E-Dude's Short List Of "Gotta Haves"
When choosing Phone Systems For Business

Main thing when buying small business phone systems is to remember that you want it IP Ready, even if you're not going to use VoIP phone service right now. You also would prefer most likely to stay away from the need for proprietary handsets and so forth if you are buying hardware. This means the questions to ask in this area are:

• Is this an IP ready PBX?
• Can I work remotely, either by taking my IP phone home with me, or some other feature such as a VoIP softphone on my PC that allows me to make & receive calls as if I am at the office?
• Will the handsets work with any hardware, or only your system? We're looking for standard IP handsets here.
• Does it have an auto attendant so a live person doesn’t have to answer all calls?
• Can I use this PBX to connect my smaller branch locations together without additional hardware at other locations? (in other words with an internet connection and IP phone only)
• Can I do Direct Inward Dial (DID) with this equipment, or do I have to buy a bunch of additional "cards" and so forth?
• Can the system converge video and instant messaging, as well as giving me the ability to see who is and isn't available on the phone or a PC from each station / handset? (Unified Communications) This won't be available on many smaller, less expensive options, but maybe important if you have a virtual / distributed workforce.
• Can I get my voicemail as an e-mail? Does it even have Voicemail as part of the basic system?
• Do I have a voice mailbox for each person in the organization?
• Is the system easily programmable? Can I program the auto attendant, call flow and voice mail, etc. myself from a web browser?

If the answers to these questions are "it can do that, but you need this – and it costs extra" then take a look at some of the other business IP phone systems or hosted VoIP offerings as well as some of the small business phone systems shown on my affordable business phone systems page.

You can also go to the contact E-Dude page to get more help as well.

Maybe you have a view or experience as either an end user or service provider you'd like to share? If so, click here to jump to the form that will let us know.

Other VoIP Phone System Articles

Thanks for visiting my small business phone systems page, hopefully it's been helpful.

So here we have a few articles on sub categories if you will of small business phone systems that will be of interest to you depending on your budget and business model. Because it's all pretty straight forward, I won't bore you with the details if you don't think you need it. Simply click on the link below to go to that page.

Small Business PBX Phone Systems - Click here - kind of a continuation of this article, get's into specifics about hosted and premise based business VoIP phone service options.

Business IP Phone Systems – A deeper dive into the types of systems designed to be inherently IP based if you will.

Affordable Business Phone Systems – Systems chosen for their unique low initial cost or low operating expense.

Broadband phone system -

Using a Hosted Phone System To Save Money

Leave Small Business Phone Systems and goto VoIP problems? Learn Why And How To Fix It.
Solving Business VoIP Problems. Diagnose And Remedy Your Issues.

VoIP ADSL and Cable Modems. Do you know what you need for Business VoIP?
E-Dude teaches when you can use cheap VoIP ADSL

Industry Insider Shows You Best Deals On VoIP Phone Service
VoIP Phone Service, What You Need For Maximum Dollar Savings

Using A Hosted Phone System To Save Money
A hosted phone system can mean less upfront costs and serious business savings.

What Do You Know About Small Business Phone Systems or service providers?

Do you have first hand knowledge about Small Business Phone Systems or service using any of the technologies mentioned above?

Maybe you're an end-user or an equipment vendor? Tell us a little about your experience or views.