The internet has fundamentally changed the world of work in recent years. Meanwhile, you can work almost anywhere in the world, provided you have a good internet connection. The world of telephone has changed with the world of work. In the past, a large telephone system was used in companies for end-of-network devices, so there are currently no devices needed to build networks.
Virtual telephone systems get more access to small and medium-sized companies and are a full alternative to conventional telephone systems. Through the Internet, using VoIP (Voice over IP - in English: IP telephony) as a pure software solution enables telephony.
Above all, virtual telephone systems offer huge benefits from location independence. Even small companies today are often distributed with several locations around the world and can be perfectly networked through VoIP. Because of the nature of software solutions, the configuration of the telephone system is also very simplified. Almost all virtual PBX system providers offer easy-to-understand configuration interfaces.
An online telephone system is a telephone system whose location is not an office, but which is located in an external data center. One type of telephone call system is also a cloud telephone system, a VoIP telephone system or an IP telephone system. Like the latter, term synonym, the appointment of an online telephone system shows that the telephone system is not connected to analog or ISDN, but as an online virtual telephone network system. The difference with traditional telephones is that factory infrastructure is in the cloud. In addition to infrastructure, terminals, namely telephones that support VoIP are connected online via the Internet with an online telephone system. On our blog, you will find several contributions to the technical background of cloud-based telephones.
With globalization and digitalization, it is no accident that employees from the same company are located in different locations around the world, or that the company serves their customers around the world with their services. In this context, the requirements for business calls have increased. Through the use of an online telephone system, the dependency disappears, must make a call at the same place where the telephone system is located. Thanks to the location-independent nature of cloud-based online telephones, even small companies with many locations around the world can network perfectly through online telephone systems using VoIP telephones.
The advantages of a telephone system from the cloud
- One of the most frequently mentioned advantages of a telephone system from the cloud is the potential cost savings. The basic idea is that capital intensive aspects of conventional telephone systems, such as investment in hardware and maintenance and service costs, are eliminated by cloud hosting from an online telephone system.
- Less effort and more space is another advantage of a hosted PBX, such as an online telephone system also called. Because: Hardware is no longer in the company
- Nearly unlimited flexibility is also considered a core feature of the telephone system. This refers to a number of components: In addition to the flexibility to make settings in the web interface, which is achieved through conventional browsers, by clicking (without having to make expensive modules and functional changes by system technicians), profits are usually mentioned that numbers and options can be flexibly added or canceled at the end of the following month.
- VoIP telephone systems are at least as safe as conventional telephone systems. These are hosted in high-security data centers and are therefore always protected against access by third parties and environmental factors. Regular security updates also secure software.
- Greater variation of functions also plays a major role. Functions can be implemented more easily using software. Constant function updates give you more functions that you have to pay dearly for conventional telephone systems, if this particular function can even be mapped with an ISDN telephone system.
Online Telephone System Losses
The following points can be summarized into the weaknesses of cloud-based telephone systems:
- for the use of an online telephone system from the cloud, certain bandwidth must be available to ensure good sound quality and to prevent call interference. Per call, a bandwidth of 100 kBit / s is estimated in uploads and downloads. Depending on the number of simultaneous calls, this required bandwidth must be added together. In other words, the bigger the company (in terms of calling employees), the more bandwidth must be included for VoIP. Don't forget the parallel use of other Internet services, such as surfing the internet, using browser-based applications, sending and receiving e-mails, etc. Because of this parallel use, quality service measures must also be taken to prioritize VoIP calls through other Internet applications. In rural areas, where available Internet bandwidth is very low, using cloud-based telephone systems may not be an alternative.
- In an online telephone system, registration is usually online and independent. This low price only offers cheap offers, because the telephone system configuration is made by the customer. Even though this is as simple as possible, some customers still worry about not being able to adjust the settings correctly. Thus, online configuration - hopefully they also contribute to flexibility - represents an obstacle and is considered a loss.
- Unlike the ISDN network, internet channels do not have their own power supply, which can supply power to a connected device (or the network itself). If your district has a power outage, your device will no longer function. The telephone is no longer possible. Of course, the internet itself is also affected. This also failed in a power failure.
- This problem also exists with special ISDN services. For the use of door opener systems, fire detectors, alarm systems, EC terminals, etc., special precautions must be taken with VoIP.
Conclusion: the pros and cons of an online telephone system
As you can see, in addition to the extraordinary advantages of an Internet-based telephone system, there are also some significant weaknesses. In the case of individual applications, solutions and alternatives must be found here. Basically, the transition to All IP and the use of an online telephone system provide many benefits and opportunities for every form of user.
