Virtual PBX Key Terms

Understand virtual PBX jargon

Virtual PBX key terms are part the technical jargon and acronyms that you'll hear often when shopping for virtual private branch exchange (PBX) systems. PBX is the switching system within a building or company telephone network. Virtual PBX, also called hosted PBX, is a system that's located off the premises. Some of the advantages of a virtual system are that you won't have to purchase or maintain equipment and all configuration and management is done by the hosting company.

Choosing a virtual PBX system means that your staff won't have to be as familiar with terminology, since you won't need to support or manage the system. However, familiarity with some of the terminology may still be helpful for the following reasons:

1. Since you'll hear a lot of terms used by hosted PBX providers, it's a good idea to understand what features are available.

2. Familiarity with other types of phone systems can help to determine if hosted PBX is the right choice for your business.

3. An understanding of PBX technology will help you to understand the limits and potential problems of virtual PBX.

Get familiar with general virtual PBX software terminology

Before talking to vendors, familiarize yourself with general telecommunications and PBX terminology. One of the general terms that will probably be mentioned is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which is the protocol used for routing calls over the Internet or networks. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the predominant VoIP signaling protocol. Features to look for in a system include auto-attendant, a voice system that routes incoming calls and switch and call management codes.

Know what to look for in an online PBX provider

Understanding how PBX works and knowing what to look for in a system can help you decide if hosted PBX is the best solution for you. It's important to know the benefits and disadvantages of hosted PBX versus in-house systems, including IP, hybrid, and standard PBX systems. Check out white papers, buyers' guides and best practices documents to find out what types of features are available and compare products.

Understand the role of VoIP in virtual PBX solutions

Most virtual PBX systems use VoIP as their backbone. It's important to get an overview of VoIP before talking to a sales rep or setting up phone service.

• Regular reading about virtual PBX services and telecommunications technology will make the terms more familiar and easier to understand. It may be helpful to find articles that are easy to understand and peruse them at your leisure, rather than cramming all at once.

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