One of the main advantages of an IP PBX is the fact that it employs converged data and voice networks. In fact, some projections indicate that this year the number of IP PBX systems that are deployed will surpass the number of traditional PBX systems. The first thing that you should consider when purchasing an IP PBX is whether or not the IP PBX that you are considering purchasing will integrate with a traditional PBX. Correctly configuring your organization's PBXs is frequently one of the more difficult deployment tasks because PBXs are very different and their functionality depends on the PBX model and software that is installed. You can find a computer geek who has already deployed an IP PBX. Another important way to gauge an IP PBX system's reliability is to look for features that make it reliable. Regardless of the size of your organization, any IP PBX should be able to do the following: Automated attendant, automatic system to answer phones with the ability to build phone menu systems, add call menus, transfer to voicemail and create flexible and programmable rules to handle all of these features. "In practice", IP PBXs also support legacy telephones.
Pure IP solutions are not cost optimized for deployment in many environments though, as these solutions usually require gateways, additional servers, and careful network engineering to ensure proper operation, adding substantial cost to the overall solution.
For these reasons, smart company managers opt for hosted PBX VoIP which is cost and time savings as they have access to this technology without the associated problems of system acquisition, finance, deployment and support. That option is a smart choice for small to medium businesses.
The heart and brains of your communications network, the PBX (Private Branch Exchange) can be the vital link, OR the missing link that interfaces businesses and their customers. So, a business phone system "hosted" may be something to consider seriously when running a small and medium size business.