How do Business Phone Systems Work?

By Adriana Noton

Whether you’re running a company or you’re one in a thousand cubicle workers, the phone system you use at work will be different than one from home. There are different functional requirements needed, and in recent years the technology underpinning even the most basic functions on business phones has changed.

New business phones no longer use traditional analogue dialing systems, the ones where you manually enter the number of the person you’re trying to call (or the auto-dial does the same). Replacing these is Voice Over IP (VOIP), which in a nutshell is the ability to send voice messages from one user to another by way of an internet connection. It works the same way online music does: a sound is recorded on a microphone and converted into a digital form on the soundcard. A coder/decoder (CODEC) on a standard PC computer with microphones, headset, a soundcard and an internet connection is all that’s needed.

It facilitates several other means of communication: it does video calls, video conferencing, instant messaging, and several other various features only conceivable utilizing the power of the internet. As well, because it’s using internet technology,
long distance, and even local calling, can be significantly less expensive. Nobody likes to be counting the time they spend on the phone. This type of connection allows you to talk with impunity and be unconcerned with the ticking minutes. This is one example where spending money in the right way off the bat can lead to substantial savings down the road.

As well, new cordless technology called Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony (DECT) is gradually being used around the world.  Basically, it is a reliable cordless platform that is interoperable—it works with traditional analogue systems, new digital and data phone networks, mobile phone networks, and others. As well, it works even with different manufacturers. For business users, the best systems have a wireless handset option and presence indication built in.

Advanced business phones also adopt the surrounding technologies like high resolution touch screens, blue tooth connectivity, and USB and Ethernet ports. Like building a computer, the price depends on your unique configuration. Options exist such as choosing the number of line displays, how many programmable soft keys you want, and whether you want a blue tooth connection. The other thing to take into account, of course, is the size of your company and the expected size it will reach; you want a system that is appropriate for today and
tomorrow.

Buying a business phone with the latest technology will be useful for years. Many older technologies aren’t compatible with the newest systems, and if you want to keep everybody in the loop you’ll need a system that can grow with your business.
Because the newer systems are interoperable you don’t have to worry as much about staying current, as you’ll be current for the foreseeable future. Having modern technology in the core of your phone system is an essential component of keeping your company on the cutting edge, and looked at this way, it’s a necessary and unavoidable investment.

About the Author:

Offers business technology solutions, HDTV, cable TV, cell phones, wireless internet and business phone systems to residential and business customers in Canada.
http://www.bell.ca

Source: http://www.isnare.com