PBX is a private telephone network system that firms use to communicate internally. It facilitates quick and effective communication for phones connected to the network.
VoIP relies on the internet to link phones within the same network. VoIP networks are private and not open source for public access.
PBX and VoIP are invaluable assets to many businesses. They are especially important to businesses that rely on each other.
The emergence of these services has been facilitated by reliable and innovative service providers such as Yeaster Telephone System. While these services are somewhat similar, you might want to know,
What Is the Difference Between PBX And VoIP?
While these two technologies are similar, they have key distinctions. If you are a business owner looking to select a communication channel, you must understand the differences between the two. The main distinctions are in the:
1. The investment costs
PBX networks are large and complex. They require a significant amount of initial investment. A bulk of the investment goes into setting up a secure and reliable network.
While setting up a PBX network, you have to purchase routers, gateways, hardware, and software.
VoIP is less expensive to set up. VoIP relies on a reliable internet connection. You must purchase hardware compatible with VoIP and set it up on the network.
It is faster to set up a VoIP network. A bulk of the expense falls into purchasing handsets and computers.
2. Operating costs
PBX network costs largely depend on your provider. If a business owns the network outright, the costs are really low.
They do not have to pay a subscription to access the network. The business will have to pay a software licensing fee if it relies on a service provider.
VoIP can be expensive to run over time. It is a subscription service where the business pays periodically to keep using the network. Depending on the plan and the number of connected users, it can be really expensive.
In light of the costs, many small businesses might wonder how they can leverage these communication technologies without breaking the bank. This is where PBX solutions for small businesses come into the picture. Tailored to meet the unique needs of smaller enterprises, these solutions bring the power of a robust and secure communication network within reach. They are designed to be budget-friendly, without compromising on the functionality that larger systems provide. Hence, they serve as an ideal compromise between the expensive initial setup costs of a traditional PBX network and the high recurring expenses of VoIP services. By adopting a PBX solution designed for small businesses, these enterprises can enhance internal communication, improve customer service, and even scale up as their needs grow – all while keeping costs under control. It is an investment that drives value across multiple facets of the business operations.
3. Scaling and expansion
Scaling an existing PBX network can be challenging. Setting up the network requires the business to get additional phone lines for new offices and buildings. It can take time for a new location to connect to an existing network.
Expanding an existing VoIP network is easier. All the business has to do is have the service provider add additional lines to an existing VoIP network.
The downside to adding additional devices is that it raises a business’s subscription costs significantly. Businesses, therefore, have to compare the costs before choosing a service.
4. Call quality
PBX offers great call quality. Businesses get linked within the same network.
There is typically no unnecessary traffic within the lines. The users, therefore, get the best call quality. Latency is not an issue with PBX. The only obstacle could be the user’s hardware.
VoIP call quality is good but not comparable to PBX. The call quality varies depending on the traffic and the internet quality.
An unreliable internet connection means that the quality suffers. VoIP users must be on fast internet and have reliable devices to optimize the call quality.
5. Security
PBX is the most secure and reliable network for businesses. Businesses that often deal with sensitive information, such as law firms, use PBX.
There is no risk of data breaches since the network doesn’t connect to the internet. It is great for conveying confidential information.
VoIP security is less secure than PBX. Though most VoIP services are reliable, they are still quite sensitive to hacks and leaks.
It is the service provider’s responsibility to keep checking the network for vulnerabilities. It might not be secure enough for firms that deal with sensitive information.
6. Team Sizes
PBX is better suited to large teams or companies. The network systems are generally robust and designed to handle heavy traffic and data.
It serves thousands of active devices at the same time. It is, therefore, not cost-effective for small companies and businesses.
VoIP is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. The network systems are less robust and not designed to handle heavy traffic.
Increased traffic channels cause latency and lower call quality. It makes much more sense from a cost perspective for smaller businesses to use a VoIP network.
7. Flexibility and device options
PBX networks are great. However, they offer less flexibility than VoIP. PBX devices don’t need to connect to the network through an internet connection. The supported device options get restricted to simple devices and computers.
VoIP offers more flexibility with its device options. You can connect smartphones and modern computers to a VoIP network.
VoIP also supports many modern applications that don’t get supported by PBX. VoIP provides better location mobility to businesses.
8. Customization
PBX is easy to customize to suit your business requirements. You can perform expansions and changes; however, the process is generally expensive. You would need onsite professionals to tweak and configure network changes. It takes time and costs more.
Customizing a VoIP network is easy. You can call your service provider to make changes and modifications to existing subscriptions. Changing VoIP plans can get expensive since it involves alterations to existing service plans. Unlike PBX, it does not involve making changes to existing hardware.
9. Service commitment duration
PBX contracts are generally long-term service agreements between the service provider and the customer. It is not easy to set up the network and customize it to a business’s requirements.
It is, however, reliable, secure, and semi-permanent. VoIP contracts are short-term. They work like subscription services.
The service durations typically last a month. You can switch VoIP providers easily, as the process doesn’t require wholesome hardware changes.
Bottom Line
Effective communication is a necessity in today’s business environments. Businesses must have the means to communicate directly with one another. Infrastructure has come a long way and now facilitates fast and reliable communication between parties in the business.
PBX and VoIP have advantages and cons and appeal to different businesses.
