Cloud-based business phone systems come with a lot of jargon. The IT jargon associated with a cloud business phone system, can however over-complicate what is in essence, a straight-forward decision-making process.
Navigating through the jargon can be a challenge, and no doubt the unprecedented demand for cloud-based business phone systems that are accessed via the Internet has exacerbated the process. For instance, different cloud Vendors use different terms to describe what is in essence, the same thing ie; Hosted PBX, Cloud PBX, Virtual PBX, VoIP PBX, and even Internet PBX.
For clarity, cloud business phone systems are hosted as a virtualised environment in a secure data centre; with VoIP configured to carry voice traffic. Access to the service is simply via your internet connection. In contrast, traditional business phone systems are installed at your office, and require VoIP or ISDN lines to be configured to the system.
Call it what you like, cloud-based business phone systems remain business critical technology across an array of industry sectors. Today’s business phone system is longer tied to a single office location. Instead, the modern cloud-based phone applications can be best described as a digital communication platform; that enables the modern workforce to communicate with customers and staff from any location ie; head office; subsidiaries; offshore; or out ‘on the road’. Likewise, the workforce is able to communicate across multiple communication channels via the unified communications capabilities – promoting engagement and collaboration.
Since the advent of COVID19, the popularity of cloud phone systems has gone through the roof for all of the above reasons – the are equipped for a modern-day workplace that has high demands on flexibility, agility and mobility.
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Glossary:
ISDN: (Integrated Services Digital Network) – used for traditional phone lines which is soon to be obsolete.
PBX: (Public Branch Exchange) – a term used for a Phone System.
Virtualisation: creation a software-based, or virtual representation of applications, servers, storage and networks.
VoIP: (Voice over Internet Protocol) – phone calls made over an internet connection, as against traditional phone lines.
