Take a look at telecommunications of say the 1960s or 1970s, and it is easy to see just how much things have evolved. What used to be a phone operator at a switchboard directing lines to connect calls has long been replaced by digital technology and VoIP that allows business owners to handle telecommunications in an almost flawless fashion.

Cloud-based or cloud-hosted phone systems are the latest evolution, and these systems are well worth a look if your business phone system is still operating with last decade's hardware and software. PBX systems, which are Public Branch Exchange systems, are considered highly efficient, but these systems do have pros and cons to consider. 

Pro: You don't really have to have a lot of expensive hardware to use cloud PBX systems. 

Unlike some of yesterday's phone systems that involved investing in major hardware, special phones, and certain types of devices, cloud-based PBX systems do not require a lot of hardware at all. Most of the stuff that happens when calls are handled and routed takes place in internet servers in the cloud, so there is no real need for business owners to invest in special hardware. 

Con: Cloud PBX systems don't fare well with poor internet signals. 

In order for PBX services to work well, you have to have a stable and reliable internet connection that has the speed to support the data that is being transmitted. If your business only has access to slower internet, the system will likely have a few issues handling the load. For most business owners, however, it is well worth the investment to upgrade to faster internet just to take advantage of cloud PBX services. 

Pro: Most cloud PBX providers offer flat-rate fees for their services. 

Do you remember the days when you worked with a phone system service provider and had to have bills itemized just to understand why they were so expensive? With cloud-based PBX systems, that is not really a big concern. The service providers for PBX tend to charge a flat-rate fee by the month for their services, and that price is often all inclusive. 

Con: You may have to pay a flat-fee per line user. 

If you have multiple phone users within your business, you may need to pay a fee per user beyond the set number of users that are included in the initial or basic plan. This kind of fee will depend on the service provider, and most prices are incredibly reasonable, so make sure you ask any questions up front before committing to a service contract if you do have multiple users. 

For more information, reach out to a company like Integral Choice. 

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