Virtual PBX "widely popular" for business VoIP

Increasing adoption of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology has made the use of "virtual" private branch exchange (PBX) "widely popular" among businesses, a technology expert has said.

Writing in PC World, Kathryn Vercillo said this is because virtual PBX can be downloaded over the internet and are managed externally by a third party, meaning they are a low-cost, easy to introduce option for companies looking to move to VoIP telephony.

Virtual PBX services host video, voice and conferencing and these features can be added remotely, which means there is no need for additional investment in hardware or software.

Furthermore, having a service that is remotely managed means it the stress of scaling-up a telephony system is removed for small and medium businesses, Ms Vercillo notes.

However, she states, choosing a virtual PBX can be "daunting" and companies therefore need to consider what their calling needs are before researching which providers offers the best range of options at the lowest rates.

Ultimately, Ms Vercillo says, virtual PBX should help businesses to reduce the time it spends managing its calls, while increasing its benefits from improved efficiency and communication.

In 2007, sales of hybrid internet protocol PBX made up two-thirds of all new phone lines, according to Voip News.

Posted on: 2008-03-18, in: General VoIP

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