What Are the Different Types of Telephone Systems?
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Telephone systems come in many different types. Analog, VoIP, hybrid, and SIP trunking are just a few. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand what each one is capable of. PBX systems, for instance, connect the internal telephones of independent organizations to the PSTN. Compared to extensions, a PBX system uses fewer outside lines.
Analog
Analog telephone systems are cheaper in the short term but require additional installation and configuration. In addition, they cannot integrate with common CRM systems. Therefore, analog telephone systems are not recommended for fast-growing companies that don’t know what the future holds.
Analog telephone systems use analog signals, which are easily affected by electric and magnetic fields. This degradation can affect the quality of the voice. They also have limited features, such as music on hold and VOIP. On the other hand, digital phone systems can offer many features. Some of the most common features that are available on digital systems include click-to-dial and presence features.
VoIP
VoIP is a telephone system that uses internet-based technology to connect users and businesses. Businesses can use VoIP phone systems to communicate with customers from anywhere, including their home offices. Because these phone systems can be accessed from desktops and mobile devices, they allow flexible working arrangements. Another benefit is that VoIP phone systems eliminate missed calls.
The quality of calls over VoIP relies on jitter, packet loss, and latency. These three factors are minimized through compression and sending audio signals over the internet. In addition, VoIP systems can apply Quality of Service prioritization, which prioritizes VoIP traffic over other types of traffic if the network is congested.
Hybrid
The technology behind hybrid telephone systems differs from conventional phone systems in several ways. For example, while analog POTS telephone lines combine two audio directions on a pair of wires, digital systems process each direction independently. Hybrids are typically found in central telephone office switches, which function as line cards.
In addition to eliminating the need for traditional telephone lines, hybrid phone systems provide several additional benefits. Unlike traditional systems, they allow businesses to use new digital devices without investing in additional equipment. In addition, they can easily scale, as additional SIP licenses can be easily added to expand the system.
Hybrid phone systems are an excellent choice for businesses just beginning to use IP technology. These systems can also be an excellent first step to a hosted solution. In addition, these systems can combine existing PBX infrastructure with cloud functionality, making them ideal for businesses with remote workers.
SIP trunking
SIP trunking is a telephone system with cloud-based features that connect employees in different offices using one phone line. It is a great option for businesses that want to cut phone line costs and enjoy cloud-exclusive features. Analog systems, on the other hand, use physical trunk lines that connect a private branch exchange (PBX) to the PSTN. These lines are used for both internal and external phone connections. In addition to routing inbound and outbound calls, the PBX system provides advanced features for the user.
To make the most of SIP trunking, business owners should look for a provider that offers dual provider resiliency. In this scenario, the SIP provider provides backup services to the primary provider. If one carrier experiences downtime, the other provider handles the call. There are two common ways to set up dual-provider resiliency. One way is to install a secondary carrier and use it as a backup. Another way is to split the traffic between the two providers. Some vendors, such as Teledynamic, offer dual provider resiliency.
Key
The main categories of telephone systems include several. The key telephone system, which features unique line-selecting buttons on each telephone, is the first option. This system originally included telephone sets, keys, lighting, and wire. The term “key” was originally used by the Bell System to describe a system in which the customer controls the switchboard. Today, key telephone systems are less common than hybrid systems. Private branch exchanges (PBXs) are also a type of key system.
PBX telephone systems are also popular and offer many advantages. They can be used by large companies and can save money on phone bills. In addition, the PBX can handle a higher number of phone lines than traditional phone systems, which operate from within the office. The PBX telephone system is also more popular and often uses IP (Internet Protocol) technology.
