PBX systems
(If you aren’t familiar with the term PBX please read this first.)
A PBX system that’s right for you
It should come as no surprise that there are different types of PBX systems. There are also different technologies that each PBX system uses as well as different classifications of PBX systems.
Let’s take a look.
The types of PBX systems
There are two different types of PBX systems:
- Premise Based – A premise based PBX is a PBX that is housed and maintained at your physical location (office or otherwise).
- Hosted – A Hosted PBX is a PBX that is housed and maintained by a third party service provider who delivers your PBX services “virtually” or over your Internet connection. The only physical hardware to house and maintain are your desktop telephones.
Within these two different types of PBX systems each can use a different technology to power their functionality.
The different PBX system technologies
There are two main types of PBX system technology:
- Circuit Switched - A circuit switched PBX system utilizes traditional TDM technology to send and receive telephone calls. A circuit switch PBX system uses it’s own closed network to connect to your desktop telephones and the PSTN.
- Packet Switched - A packet switched PBX system utilizes the Internet Protocol to send and receive telephone calls across an internetwork (or the Internet). A packet switch PBX system is what is commonly known as a VoIP PBX. VoIP PBX systems are quickly growing in popularity and are replacing ten’s of thousands of circuit switched systems.
In addition to these two types of PBX technologies, there are also PBX systems which utilize a combination of the two technologies - allowing you to leverage the best of both technologies.
The three classifications of PBX systems
Today there are three classifications of PBX system for you to choose from. They include:
- Proprietary – A proprietary PBX system is a PBX system with an underlying operating system and PBX software that is closed “black box” technology specific to the manufacturer. With a proprietary IP PBX you have no access to system source code or insight into how the underlying system works. Companies such as Cisco, Avaya and Shoretel offer these proprietary PBX systems. Because the development of the system was paid for by the manufacturer, proprietary systems are much more expensive then an open source or open source based PBX.
- Open Source – An open source PBX is a PBX with an underlying operating system and PBX software that is generally available to the public (for free). With an open source IP PB, you have full access to and control over the source as well as insight into how the system works. As mentioned previously, you can make your own PBX system by assembling the various hardware components of an IP PBX, installing your favorite operating system (like Linux) and an open source PBX software (like Asterisk by Digium, the most popular open source PBX software). Because the operating system and PBX software is free, the cost of an open source PBX is very low since you only need to pay for the hardware and expertise to assemble, set-up and configure.
- Open Source Based – An open source based PBX system is a PBX system with and underlying operating system and PBX software that is open source at the core with proprietary code built on top. This proprietary code is comprised of additional features, functionality, graphical user interfaces or other advanced options not commonly found in an open source based PBX. An open source based PBX represents the best value for most as it costs less then a proprietary PBX for the same features and benefits, but doesn’t require the hassle of self-assembly that is present with an open source PBX. One of the more popular open source based IP PBX systems is SwitchVox, from Digium, the creator’s of the world’s most popular open source PBX software.