Differences between a traditional PBX and a Hosted PBX
Traditional PBX, also known as on-premises or analog PBX, is a telephone system that uses physical hardware, such as copper telephone wires, and on-site software installed at a company's office. Calls are made by connecting the landline to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), also known as the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).
On the other hand, Hosted PBX systems are cloud-based and rely on internet connectivity rather than copper wires and PSTN. Voice traffic is sent via the internet, typically using VoIP technology. This means that businesses that use hosted PBX for their communication systems tend to use VoIP phones or softphones instead of traditional desk phones with individual extensions. Additionally, the infrastructure and maintenance of hosted PBX is entirely handled by the service provider.
In summary, the main difference between traditional PBX and hosted PBX is that traditional PBX is an on-premises system that uses physical hardware and is maintained by the business, while hosted PBX is a cloud-based system that is maintained by a third-party provider and relies on internet connectivity.
Traditional On-Premise PBX | Hosted PBX |
|---|---|
On-site hardware and software | Infrastructure is managed by the provider and via the internet |
Basic call control features | Far more advanced features which can give even the smallest companies the impression of the larger companies, interactive voice response (IVR), Voicemail to email, Call back and SLA (Sevice Level Agreement alerting |
More responsibility over PBX system | Hand over control to service provider or IT Provider |
Expensive to scale | As your business grows its easy to increase the capacity and functionality of your hosted PBX system |
Requires specialist PBX employees | you can easilly control your hosted PBX without experts and the Hosted PBX provider is responsible for the technical stuff. |
High initial set-up costs and long contracts | Minimal set-up costs and in many cases no long contract |
No use of internet for telephony and no fail over | Relies on internet connectivity with many failover options |
Hard for remote working so limited to the office environment | Easy remote working so you can work from anywhere |
Difficulties of a Traditional On-Premise PBX
Maintenance/Upkeep: Hosted PBX and traditional PBX are two different types of telephone systems. Traditional PBX, also known as on-premises or analog PBX, uses physical hardware and on-site software installed at a company's office, and is maintained by the owners business.
Hosted PBX, on the other hand, is a cloud-based system that relies on internet connectivity, is maintained by a third-party provider, and can be accessed from anywhere. One of the main differences between the two is the upkeep and maintenance, where traditional PBX requires more maintenance and upkeep than hosted PBX, which can be a significant consideration for businesses when choosing a telecommunications solution.
Maintenance/Upkeep: Hosted PBX and traditional PBX are two different types of telephone systems. Traditional PBX, also known as on-premises or analog PBX, uses physical hardware and on-site software installed at a company's office, and is maintained by the owners business. Hosted PBX, on the other hand, is a cloud-based system that relies on internet connectivity, is maintained by a third-party provider, and can be accessed from anywhere. One of the main differences between the two is the upkeep and maintenance, where traditional PBX requires more maintenance and upkeep than hosted PBX, which can be a significant consideration for businesses when choosing a telecommunications solution.
Basic calling: Old Traditional PBX systems provide a basic phone call service without additional features and functionalities offered by hosted PBX. These systems are less flexible in terms of adding features such as auto-attendants, greetings, voicemail, and conference calling capabilities, which are common in hosted PBX systems.
By choosing a traditional PBX means that the business may have to compromise on advanced telecommunications features that can enhance productivity and improve customer service.
Maintenance/Upkeep: Hosted PBX and traditional PBX are two different types of telephone systems. Traditional PBX, also known as on-premises or analog PBX, uses physical hardware and on-site software installed at a company's office, and is maintained by the owners business. Hosted PBX, on the other hand, is a cloud-based system that relies on internet connectivity, is maintained by a third-party provider, and can be accessed from anywhere. One of the main differences between the two is the upkeep and maintenance, where traditional PBX requires more maintenance and upkeep than hosted PBX, which can be a significant consideration for businesses when choosing a telecommunications solution.
Capacity constraints and limited scalability: Traditional PBX systems typically have a limited number of supported desk phones, making them less suitable for large businesses or those planning to expand, They are usually manufactured by the PBX manufacturer.
The cost of upgrading and expanding the number of connected phones in an on-premises PBX can be prohibitively high as the handsets are usually expensive and usually need to buy an additioanal license
Maintenance/Upkeep: Hosted PBX and traditional PBX are two different types of telephone systems. Traditional PBX, also known as on-premises or analog PBX, uses physical hardware and on-site software installed at a company's office, and is maintained by the owners business. Hosted PBX, on the other hand, is a cloud-based system that relies on internet connectivity, is maintained by a third-party provider, and can be accessed from anywhere. One of the main differences between the two is the upkeep and maintenance, where traditional PBX requires more maintenance and upkeep than hosted PBX, which can be a significant consideration for businesses when choosing a telecommunications solution.
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