Virtual PBX vs. Traditional: A Small Business Phone System Comparison

With the economy as uncertain as it is, everyone is looking for ways to cut spending and improve their bottom line. Diane Meyers, directing analyst for Infonetics Research, has found that one way companies are cutting costs is by turning to VOIP and virtual PBX for their business communications:

Demand for residential and business VoIP services continues to grow through the economic downturn because of the cost savings they provide. As a result, in 2008 the VoIP services market had healthy growth of 33% to $30.8 billion.

This is a trend even small businesses can get on. An online PBX is cheaper than a traditional PBX. Because it is maintained by your service provider and allows you to adjust it via a web site, you don’t need to hire an IT guru to manage it. And because it a virtual PBX doesn’t require any hardware being installed at your facility, it doesn’t matter that your vast entrepreneurial empire is currently limited to the spare room over the garage.

If you have a team of like-minded individuals helping you build your business, a hosted phone system can be even more useful, since it allows customer calls to be routed to any member of your team no matter where they are. So if calls need to go to your programmer in Seattle, your marketing genius in New York, and still reach you at the coffee shop down the street, a VOIP system can route them as if you were all in the same building.

Finally, your internet phone service is maintained by your provider. Upgrades and improvements happen transparently, without you needing to lift a finger. This means your communications stay up to date, no matter what new technologies or tools pop up in the future.

Photo credits: Apreche, pasotraspaso