You want to connect your business phone system to the cloud and enjoy the benefits of VoIP. One of the first questions that comes up: should I go with hosted PBX or SIP trunking?

When making calls over the internet instead of the traditional phone lines, you need a setup that serves your company’s needs now and accommodates future growth. 

Hosted PBX is a cloud-based phone system solution entirely handled by a hosted PBX service provider. All the equipment, maintenance, and features are managed offsite. 

SIP trunking connects your existing on-premise PBX hardware to the internet via a SIP trunking service provider.

In this guide, we’ll explore both solutions, assess their pros and cons, and help you determine the best fit for your business — whether it’s adopting a hosted PBX system or integrating SIP trunks with your existing equipment.

What Is a Hosted PBX?

A hosted private branch exchange (PBX) is a telephone system that’s managed completely off-site by a third-party service provider. It connects directly to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) over the internet.

In other words, a company that implements a hosted PBX solution doesn’t have to invest in, own, or maintain any physical infrastructure, equipment, or software in-house to have a reliable business phone system.

A hosted PBX system delivers key telephone services without costly equipment. End users connect VoIP phones to the cloud-based platform managed by the provider. 

You may also come across virtual PBX, cloud PBX, cloud phone system, or hosted VoIP as other names for hosted PBX. These all refer to phone systems delivered over the internet by an external provider rather than run locally.

At a technical level, hosted PBXs use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to route calls. SIP is a signaling protocol that allows communication sessions, like voice calls, to be managed across IP networks.

The hosted PBX provider houses and manages all the necessary SIP servers on their end. This eliminates the need for a company to invest in its own on-premise PBX hardware. 

The quality and reliability of the communications system, however, depends on the network.

Benefits of a hosted PBX system

Hosted PBX is deployed quickly and easily, often within a day. Because it’s provided by an Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP), all you need to start using VoIP communications with a hosted PBX are IP phones or softphones and a stable internet connection.

With hosted PBX, there’s no need for a physical on-premises PBX system and hardware. You’ll never have to worry about maintenance costs, PBX software, and hardware upgrades, or service downtime.

Hosted PBX offers many of the same benefits that standard VoIP phone services provide, such as:

• Managing and routing incoming/outgoing calls
• Handling transfers, holds, and call forwarding
• Recording calls
• Conference calling
• Auto attendants and interactive voice menus
• Voicemail hosting

Additionally, hosted PBX delivers these critical business phone system features without the high setup costs of new on-premise hardware or continued equipment replacement/upgrades. This offers businesses significant cost savings and management efficiency.

Small businesses can implement a fully functional PBX phone system easily and affordably through a cloud service provider. You’ll eliminate the complexity and expenses of maintaining an on-site PBX solution.

Drawbacks

Like any business phone service, hosted PBX isn’t without its challenges. Here are some common downsides and pitfalls you’ll come across.

• Reliance on internet connectivity. If your internet goes down, your phones go down. This can be disrupted by power outages, cable cuts, etc.
• Audio quality issues. Call quality over internet lines is often not as good as traditional phone lines. This can lead to choppy audio or dropped calls.
• Limited flexibility. You have to work within the features and capabilities offered by your hosted PBX provider. Customization options are often more limited.
• Security concerns. Your communications reside on your provider’s servers rather than your own private network. You have to ensure your provider has strong security measures in place.

What Is SIP Trunking?

SIP trunking is a VoIP service that connects your existing on-premise PBX phone system to the internet via a SIP provider. It enables you to leverage your company’s existing hardware PBX investment already installed and managed on-site by your IT staff.

For a more resilient system less reliant on internet uptime, many organizations deploy SIP trunking alongside an existing on-premise PBX. 

SIP trunking ports PBX phone calls onto the IP network via a primary rate interface (PRI). This achieves voice-over IP cost efficiency, feature enhancements, and long-distance savings.

A SIP trunk acts as a virtual phone line, allowing calls to be routed over the internet rather than a conventional PSTN line.

SIP trunking offers greater versatility, as SIP trunks can carry not only voice calls but also video, email, SMS, and other communication data all on the same line. You don’t need additional lines otherwise required to access the internet or send faxes.

Unlike hosted PBX solutions where a third-party provider houses all the necessary equipment offsite, SIP trunking requires that your business already has an IP-PBX phone system onsite that can interface with SIP trunks or a VoIP gateway to connect your existing traditional PBX system to a SIP provider.

This will depend on your current business phone system setup.

Benefits of SIP trunking

Without SIP in place, your business communications rely on separate infrastructures for voice and data. This fragmented system struggles with call volumes and leaves you vulnerable to outages.

With SIP trunking, communication becomes more reliable and resilient through consolidation, including:

• Instant call routing, transfers, forwarding
• Unified messaging
• Video and web conferencing
• Seamless data exchange

If you already have a hardware PBX, migrating to SIP trunking is easy and enhances your telephony capabilities. You’ll enjoy more features, cost savings, and improved business continuity compared to conventional analog or digital phone lines.

Drawbacks

What are some common challenges with SIP trunking?

• More complex setup. SIP trunking requires properly configuring SIP endpoints, firewall traversal, and your PBX system. Additional complexity can cause more errors.
• Difficult troubleshooting. Call quality and connectivity issues can be harder to troubleshoot compared to traditional phone lines. Additional networking knowledge is typically required.
• Emergency calling issues. Making proper 911/emergency calling work over SIP trunks requires some extra configuration steps that are frequently overlooked.
• Provider dependence. You rely on your SIP provider for call connectivity. If they have an outage, your phones will be down unless you have redundancy in place.

Hosted PBX vs. SIP Trunking: Key Differences

Let’s look at each of the main differentiators between these two options.

1. Initial costs

Hosted PBX requires a lower upfront investment since the service provider houses all the necessary PBX equipment offsite. 

You simply need to purchase IP phones and ensure you have a solid internet connection. Any routers/switches are fairly inexpensive.

SIP trunking allows you to leverage the value from existing on-premise PBX investments. However, there may be some upgrade costs associated with making a hardware PBX IP-enabled or adding a VoIP gateway to connect an analog system to SIP trunks. 

These upgrades can range from $500-$2,000 depending on your setup.

2. Ongoing fees

Hosted PBX providers typically charge per user line, often with unlimited calling plans ranging from $15-$50 per phone line per month. You’ll pay for the number of lines/concurrent calls needed. Extra fees may apply for add-ons.

SIP trunking also charges per user monthly, with standard fees in the range of $20-$50 per month per person. However, minute bundles, number of channels supported, service tiers, and additional features impact ongoing fees.

3. Maintenance and management

With a hosted VoIP solution, the service provider handles all server, software, and phone system maintenance offsite. You manage basic user adds/changes through an easy admin portal without needing deep technical skills.

For SIP trunking with an on-premise PBX, your own IT staff is responsible for the continued maintenance of PBX hardware and software, installing any updates, ensuring security policies are applied, and troubleshooting any issues. This requires dedicated in-house expertise.

4. Geographical flexibility

A hosted PBX enables employees to access phone system features remotely as long as they have an internet connection. They can use softphones, web phones, and mobile apps. It’s ideal for staff that work from home or travel frequently. 

VoIP phone services can use multi-node registrations close to employee locations to optimize call quality and reliability.

SIP trunking also supports remote and mobile workers through near-unlimited connectivity. Your VoIP provider can equip home office workers with a dedicated line tied to their work phone number and extension.

Flexibility depends somewhat on licensing rules and functionality extensions of the PBX platforms.

5. Call quality

For hosted PBX, call quality depends on the internet connection since all traffic goes over the public internet. An outage or congested bandwidth degrades audio and reliability so you need to assess the number of concurrent calls expected.

SIP trunking uses private IP network connections for clearer, more secure call audio. 

Dedicated lines prevent congestion issues. It works well for high call volumes across a larger employee base. On-premise PBX also creates localized call control separate from other network applications.

6. Scalability

Hosted PBX is ideal for smaller businesses that have limited plans for business growth or expansion to multiple locations. Scalability is restricted based on available internet bandwidth as all calls route online.

SIP trunking readily accommodates larger companies that frequently hire new staff. It also supports businesses with existing or plans to spread operations over multiple geographical sites.

7. Security

With hosted solutions, security levels rely heavily on the specific policies and protections put in place by your chosen service provider at their offsite data centers. You have less visibility and control compared to an on-premise system.

For SIP trunking with on-premise equipment, you configure security rules and policies directly on your own PBX system. This provides more robust security, uptime guarantees, and dedicated connectivity unaffected by other network traffic.

Should You Choose Hosted PBX or SIP Trunking?

When deciding between a hosted PBX solution or SIP trunking, there are several key factors to consider:

👉 When to choose hosted PBX

Hosted PBX is best suited for:

• Businesses that want an opex monthly payment model without large upfront capital expenditures
• Companies with limited internal IT resources or expertise
• Organizations that need a full-featured VoIP phone system with unified communications capabilities
• Growing companies that require frequent user or feature additions/changes

👉 When to choose SIP trunking

SIP trunking makes more sense for:

• Companies with existing on-premise phone systems looking to reduce telecom costs
• Businesses with larger IT teams and telecom expertise
• Organizations that just need basic voice connectivity without advanced features
• Companies that wish to retain existing phone system investment while transitioning to cloud

The right solution depends on your budget, features needs, growth plans, and IT capabilities. 

Assess both options considering long-term goals, resources, and total cost of ownership. With planning, either can enable communication success.

Here are some pros and cons to take note of.

Start By Choosing the Right VoIP Provider

When deciding between a hosted PBX and SIP trunking, businesses must carefully evaluate their unique needs and priorities. 

However, choosing a flexible, feature-rich Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provider like Nextiva lets businesses reap the benefits of both technologies in one seamless platform. 

Nextiva offers a reliable, cloud phone system with a broad array of communication and collaboration tools to connect distributed workforces.

With unlimited calling plans, intelligent call routing features, and built-in disaster recovery, Nextiva empowers productivity while simplifying IT management. 

Nextiva also provides tailored solutions for businesses seeking SIP trunking with no disruption to your existing service.

Imagine an efficient and empowered customer support team on one side and happy customers on the other. This is exactly what a feature-rich IP-based system will bring you. 

Remember those clunky old PBX phone systems that businesses used to rely on? The ones that looked like they were built in the late 1960s and sounded like it? Connecting those relics to the analog phone network was no easy task.

The solution back in the day was an interface called PRI, which is short for Primary Rate Interface. PRI allowed companies to transmit up to 23 calls simultaneously over a single T1 line. 

This was a big step up from previous options that required separate lines for each call.

For a period of time, PRI was the definitive way for businesses to set up their phone systems — often called trunks, for years.

Then, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) changed everything.

While PRI is now considered legacy technology, it still has some niche use cases for companies running vintage equipment. In this post, we’ll dive into the history of PRI, how it works, and why VoIP made it obsolete for most modern business phone systems.

We’ll also cover VoIP and other alternatives later in the article.

What Is PRI?

PRI stands for Primary Rate Interface. It’s a type of digital telephone line that connects business telephone systems to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

PRI carries multiple voice and data transmissions between two physical locations. It uses the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) protocol to provide digital connectivity rather than analog landlines. 

Business phone systems that need to support high volumes of concurrent calls and reliable voice/data services, like call centers, offices, hotels, and hospitals primarily use PRI.

With a PRI, businesses benefit from increased call capacity, fast data transmission, integrated voice or data, and lower cost compared to multiple analog lines.

Features of a PRI Line

To better understand how a PRI actually works, let’s first look at some of its key features:

• A PRI line is made up of two pairs of copper wires connecting the service provider (network) to the customer (business end-user).
• PRI is technically one line, but it can simultaneously transmit 23 separate communications (voice, data, or video.) This means up to 23 people in your company can be on the phone (or sending an IM or having a video chat) simultaneously.
• Each of a PRI’s channels has a 64 kbps capacity for data transmissions.
• PRI lines can work with an analog or mixed EPABX setup as well as an IP PBX system.
• A PRI can join two private branch exchange (PBX) systems together, increasing the number of available communication channels.

How PRI Works

The PRI circuit — the actual cable that physically connects your telecom system — is available in two flavors: T1 and E1.

The main difference between the two PRI circuits has a lot to do with geographical location, though there are some technological differences to be aware of:

PRI allows for direct inward dialing (DID), meaning someone from outside the company can dial an employee’s direct number and reach them directly. A company can have many individual direct phone numbers for employees, while only needing a limited number of physical phone circuits. 

For example, a single PRI circuit with 23 available channels could potentially support up to 50 employees with direct numbers. This works because it’s unlikely all employees will be on calls at the same time.

As a company grows, additional PRI circuits can be added to expand capacity. 

So if the initial PRI circuit is fully utilized with 23 simultaneous calls, a second PRI can be added to double the capacity to 46 calls. This modular expandability makes PRI scalable and cost-effective compared to legacy analog phone systems.

PRI provides an efficient and flexible digital telephone solution for businesses. 

The shared channels enable many employees to direct numbers while minimizing the physical circuits required. Capacity can be easily expanded as needed by adding supplemental PRI circuits.

Benefits of PRI

PRI offers substantial benefits. Let’s look at some reasons why many businesses still use this tech.

• Cost Savings – Many employees share a small number of physical circuits, reducing costs compared to analog phone lines. Fewer physical lines mean lower monthly charges.
• Scalability – Adding PRI circuits is an easy way to expand capacity as a business grows.
• Call Quality – PRI provides high-quality digital voice quality compared to analog phone lines. The all-digital interface eliminates signal degradation.
• Flexibility – Supports not just voice calls, but also data and video. Channels can be dynamically allocated to different media types as needed.
• Productivity – Features like call forwarding, conferencing, caller ID, and more help employees be more productive. PRI supports advanced capabilities not possible on basic analog lines.
• Reliability – Provides excellent reliability and uptime. Redundant circuits can be added to eliminate single points of failure. PRI is less prone to issues like line noise.
• Management – Offers enhanced management capabilities, allowing full control over the telephone system from one centralized point. Adds, moves, and changes are software-defined.
• Future-Proofing – PRI sets a business up with a modern voice infrastructure that can evolve as needs change. It’s a digital solution rather than outdated analog technology.

Drawbacks of PRI Systems

Up until the 1990s, most business phone systems relied on legacy PBX equipment. While functional, these aging PBX systems were clunky, limited, and difficult to connect to the analog telephone network. 

This is where the PRI came in. 

For years, PRI was the go-to solution for companies needing to connect their antiquated PBX systems to the PSTN. 

But, technology marches on. VoIP emerged in the 2000s as a disruptive force in telecommunications, and PRI began to show its age. Why? 

• Cost – PRI lines tend to be more expensive than some other telephony options like VoIP. The hardware and installation costs can be high.
• Capacity limits – Each PRI line supports 23 B channels for voice/data and 1 D channel for signaling. So a single PRI limits you to 23 concurrent calls. To scale up, you need multiple PRIs.
• Complexity – PRIs involve more complex hardware and configurations than analog lines. This can make moves, adds, and changes more difficult. It also requires trained technicians to install and maintain.
• Reliability – Since PRIs rely on the service provider’s network, any issues with their network can impact reliability. Problems like line cuts or switch outages can cause service disruptions.
• Limited flexibility – PRIs support only the signaling standards and features offered by the telco provider. So it may not be possible to enable newer IP-based features.
• Legacy technology – PRIs are tied to older time-division multiplexing (TDM) networks. As telcos move toward IP-based networks, support and evolution for PRIs will diminish over time.
• Limited availability – In some geographic areas, telco providers may not offer PRI services. Availability is diminishing as providers shift focus away from TDM.

Alternatives To PRI

There’s no denying primary rate interface technology changed the way businesses could communicate with customers 30+ years ago. But since that time, advances in telecommunications technology have shined a pretty bright light on some of PRI’s shortcomings.

Businesses are looking for alternatives to PRI. There are several options out there, but not every option is a good fit for every business. 

Here’s a look at some key PRI alternatives to consider.

1. Analog POTS lines

POTS is Plain Old Telephone Service. It’s the old-school phone line that connected every house and business. 

Your grandparents had one. Your parents had one. You might even have POTS at your house. In the residential space, POTS is often referred to as a landline or a PSTN.

POTS provides service through a single analog circuit connecting the service provider and the user. 

A POTS supports one communication at a time. This means a single phone call renders the line unavailable for anything else, like a fax or modem internet access.

At one point in history, analog POTS lines were the way people communicated by phone. And it could still work as a solution for a small business today if phone traffic is minimal.

POTS is generally reliable, but the technology has reached its apex. As other communications systems develop, POTS is slowly disappearing from the scene.

2. SIP trunking

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the method of transmitting voice communication over a data network. A Voice over IP call is an example of a SIP session.

SIP trunking is sort of like a POTS. But, with SIP trunking no phone lines run all over the place. Instead, the ‘lines’ are virtual because the phone system is connected to the service provider through your network (your internet connection).

In the past, SIP trunks have been frequently used as a replacement for POTS or PRI systems. Depending on your business size, it’s still a viable option.

3. Hosted VoIP

Today, businesses of all sizes are moving to a hosted VoIP solution. 

A hosted VoIP — also known as a hosted PBX — simply means everything is hosted off-site. The provider hosts the service, deals with the servers and software, and handles maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting.

The service provider manages all of the backend work (whether it be calls, chats, video conferences, etc.) and routes them to the business’s existing phone system.

The big advantage of a host VoIP system over PRI is apparent. 

The business itself doesn’t have to worry about expensive equipment, installing and maintaining a big server, or upgrading to the latest software. These things are taken care of by the service provider, saving the business a lot of money, manpower, and headaches.

Hosted VoIP vs. PRI vs. SIP Trunking

Let’s take a closer look at the most popular telecommunications solutions on the market today: VoIP, PRI, and SIP trunking. How do the three stack up? 

💰Startup costs

It’s doubtful you’ll find any phone system that doesn’t require some sort of upfront investment. The amount of this investment varies widely depending on the system you choose.

The cost of PRI, SIP trunking, and hosted VoIP varies based on the number of lines needed, the amount of usage, and the features required. SIP trunking and hosted VoIP are typically less expensive than PRI.

• Hosted VoIP – Low startup costs. You’ll need VoIP phones, routers, and high-speed internet. Servers and software are handled by the provider.
• SIP trunking – High startup costs. Requires purchasing and installing an on-site SIP server and separate internet connection. The server and ongoing maintenance are expensive.
• PRI – Medium to high startup costs. Requires installation of physical circuits and a primary rate interface card if using an IP PBX. More circuits mean higher costs.

💸 Ongoing costs

The upfront investment isn’t the only cost associated with a phone system. Ongoing costs, whether monthly service fees or maintenance, can quickly impact your ROI.

• Hosted VoIP – Low to medium ongoing costs. Monthly fees are based on users, features, or per-minute rates. Provides more features for a higher fee.
• SIP trunking – Medium to high ongoing costs. Charged per communication channel plus any maintenance. On-premise hardware increases costs over time.
• PRI – Medium to high ongoing costs. Monthly circuit fees plus long-distance and international calling expenses. Maintenance is also expensive.

🔌 Connectivity

Different telecommunications solutions require different kinds of hardware and software. Each system’s connection differs.

• Hosted VoIP – Virtual connection over the internet. No cables are managed on-site.
• SIP trunking – Also virtually connects over the internet, eliminating the need for analog phone lines.
• PRI – Physical circuits installed on-site. More circuits are required for over 23 channels.

🎛 Backup and redundancy

Think of backup and redundancy as ‘what happens in a disaster’. Whether it’s something simple like a power outage or something catastrophic like a tornado, businesses require a system that can support their needs during a disaster.

• Hosted VoIP – Strong backup capability due to its virtual nature and since VoIP providers have redundant hosting sites, easily redirecting calls anywhere in the world.
• SIP trunking – Also has strong backup capability and can point to different locations if connectivity is lost.
• PRI – Weak backup capability. Physical hardware is quite vulnerable but you can add extra circuits for redundancy.

VoIP service providers also plan for disasters or downtime by setting up multiple host sites. If one site is down, service and hosting can easily be rolled to another site.

📊 Business continuity

Business doesn’t stop just because the power goes out or you’re in the middle of a snowstorm. 

• Hosted VoIP offers very high continuity and communications can be easily transferred anywhere.
• SIP trunking offers medium continuity and can transfer calls to predefined locations.
• PRI offers the lowest or no continuity and cannot reroute calls if hardware is impacted.

📈 Flexibility and upscaling

Planning for the future growth of a company is imperative when selecting a phone system. The solution should not only fit the business’s current needs but also its forecasted goals and future needs. 

The ability to scale a phone system quickly and easily is important.

• Hosted VoIP is highly flexible and quick and easy to deploy. You can easily add more users and features.
• SIP trunking also offers high flexibility. It’s easy to add more trunks to scale up.
• PRI offers the lowest flexibility. Scaling requires installing more circuits, limited to channels in multiples of 23.

☎️ Call quality

The cheapest, most flexible phone system doesn’t matter if the quality of phone calls is terrible. Because of the differences in technology, call quality and service can vary a great deal among the various phone solutions.

• Hosted VoIP offers high call quality but you also need a good internet connection. You may experience network jitter and delays if your bandwidth is low.
• SIP trunking also offers high call quality with a good internet connection. You’ll experience similar issues as hosted VoIP if bandwidth is low.
• PRI offers the lowest call quality compared to VoIP/SIP. You hear more muffled and distant sounds because of the limited frequency range.

How To Choose the Right Business Phone System

PRI makes the most sense for businesses with a large volume of concurrent voice calls that need dedicated, reliable connectivity to the PSTN. However, PRI is becoming less relevant in today’s internet-driven communication environment. 

As carriers transition the PSTN to all IP networks, legacy PRI may eventually be discontinued. Many businesses are switching to VoIP phone systems that don’t require PRI. VoIP calls use broadband internet, which is cheaper and more flexible.

A SIP trunk also has advantages over PRI, especially for the ease of scalability and call quality. Installing a SIP trunk is pretty easy (depending on your current PBX), and your business won’t be burdened with a ton of phone wires. 

Though there’s a hefty upfront cost, SIP trunking might be a good option for some businesses to consider.

Better still is the hosted VoIP system. Cost, ease of deployment, scalability, and disaster recovery are all excellent with this solution. It’s simple to manage — getting started is simple, and ongoing management is a breeze. 

You don’t need to be an IT professional to set up new users or make changes. Everything is usually done through a simple online dashboard.

Make sure to compare the features, capabilities, and costs of PRI, SIP trunking, and hosted VoIP solutions to determine which option is the best fit for your specific business needs and environment. 

Think about call volume, existing infrastructure, IT capabilities, disaster recovery needs, and initial versus ongoing costs. Selecting the right business phone system is a key technology decision that should align with your overall communication strategy and budget.

Simplify Your Communication Infrastructure

A leader in cloud phone systems, Nextiva offers one of the most advanced business communication platforms. Our suite of products can take your company’s connectivity to the next level.

Nextiva’s VoIP phone system connects employees and customers from anywhere. With our ultra-reliable phone service, you’ll never miss an important customer communication.

If you prefer SIP trunking, Nextiva has you covered there too. Our all-inclusive SIP trunking pricing means no surprises or per-minute charges. You get exceptional service at a transparent cost.

Experience the difference world-class business communication can make. Reach out to learn more about Nextiva’s products. Even if you’re not sure what you need, contact us! Our experts would love to discuss your business needs and how Nextiva can help.

Not all cloud-based phone systems offer the same features, pricing, support, and capabilities. Telzio is another phone service you need to examine further to see if it fits your team well.  

As your company grows, your use of a business phone system will evolve. For instance, your current solution might not support automated workflows or allow you to instantly set up a call center. 

It’s time for a change. 

We’ll help you find a better Telzio alternative, and we’ll show you a comparison of how its top competitors can better meet your business needs. 

Why Customers Look for an Alternative to Telzio

Telzio has its strong points, but there are a few things that encourage business phone users to look for other alternatives, including the following: 

Cost and flexibility concerns

For phone calls, Telzio charges you per minute. Businesses with high call volumes incur huge, unexpected costs, making it challenging to benefit from the service. Telzio’s pricing model may not suit all business types, nudging professionals to find alternatives that align with set budgets. 

As of January 2024, Telzio offers two plan options: Bundled Minutes and Committed Use. For local numbers, the Bundled Minutes plan is $50 per month (1,000 minutes) with extra costs for additional numbers and added services. The company offers more flexibility with the Committed Use plan. However, the minimum commitment is $250 with per-minute pricing for local, toll-free, and international numbers. 

The Telzio phone system carries a significant cost as your usage increases. 

Functionality needs

Compared to other Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, Telzio lacks decent messaging support and the ability to use a physical fax machine alongside a cloud fax option.

User reviews suggest these issues have disappointed some users and left them with limited communication options. 

Telzio could be a reasonable choice for your business’s standard phone service, but if you’re seeking a more comprehensive solution, consider other phone systems. 

Mobile app improvements

Although the company has improved, many users felt Telzio’s mobile application was weak. Per reviews, some users prefer desktop applications over Telzio’s web-based calling system. 

When using the mobile app, a few users experienced technical issues like lag in call connections and occasional connection problems, impacting customer experience. Telzio has responded to such reviews and is making the required improvements in the new version of the application.

What Are the Strengths of Telzio? 

Although per-minute pricing costs rise for businesses with high call volumes, startups and some small businesses with lower call volumes find pay-per-minute pricing to be beneficial. 

However, in the long run, professionals might find such pricing to be cost prohibitive. Some users feel there are a few upsides of the Telzio software, including the following: 

User-friendly interface

Telzio comes with a simple interface for both the administrator and the user, making usage easier and potentially reducing setup time. 

Some professionals appreciate the layout of the web application. Administrators like the control panel, and the UI allows easy changes. 

Customizable call flows and accessibility

Telzio users can effectively manage call flows and direct calls to the proper team members. The software encourages global usage by providing direct inward dialing numbers in several countries.

Top 7 Alternatives to Telzio

Below are a few alternatives you can consider if you’re looking to add a better VoIP phone system or cloud call center solution to your company. 

1. Nextiva

Nextiva’s VoIP phone service offers superior call quality with an impressive uptime of 99.999%. It includes unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada with a user-friendly and reliable mobile app. The phone system perfectly caters to medium-sized businesses’ needs. 

Small and medium-sized businesses can benefit from Nextiva’s unified communication as a service (UCaaS) platform that facilitates team collaboration and provides insights into call analytics. 

Below are some of Nextiva’s highly rated features.

• Seamless conference calling: Allows easy conference call participation and provides a single view for messages landing on voice, text, or email channels. The software comes loaded with team collaboration features such as rooms, team chats, and threaded conversations. 
• Robust call analytics: Provide deep dives into call center performance through insights like missed calls, talk time, and answered calls. You can set live key performance indicators and customer reports to help your team improve sales. 
• Helpful tech integrations: Integrates easily with Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, and various other tools, depending on the plan 
• Intuitive call flow designer: Provides a voice admin dashboard for easy setup and administration. With a visual call flow builder, you can easily direct incoming calls. 

You can access advanced features like interactive voice response, business call forwarding, voicemail transcription, call recording, and more. 

Nextiva offers a free trial, and below are some notable details about its pricing. 

• Essential plan costs $18.95 per user per month. 
• Professional plan costs $22.95 per user per month
• Enterprise plan costs $32.95 per user per month. 

Nextiva’s pricing varies based on the number of users and term length. The intelligent cloud contact center platform’s pricing is available in detail.

2. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a phone system for small businesses and solopreneurs. It offers virtual phone numbers with flexibility and ease of use. The software lets you separate work and personal conversations while allowing you to route incoming calls. 

Below are some features of the Grasshopper phone system. 

• Call management capabilities: Let users record, forward, screen, or route calls. The system simultaneously handles different calls to avoid missing any. The virtual phone system helps companies manage call queues and properly handle incoming calls. 
• Group collaboration: Allows professionals to collaborate on video or audio conferencing. 
• Custom greetings: Offer messages by professional voice artists. 

Grasshopper is available only in the U.S. and Canada. It may not be suitable for businesses that operate globally or have plans to expand internationally. 

3. Aircall

Aircall provides a hosted call center with decent audio quality. Its user-friendly interface comes with a variety of features, including recording and tagging calls and integrations with CRM software. 

Below are some features of Aircall. 

• Call center functionality: Distributes calls to multiple team members.  
• Text messaging: Send, receive, and manage text messages for personalized communication. 
• Phone extensions: Assign a three-digit code to everyone, letting teams connect internally. 

Users appreciate Aircall’s ease of use and UI, but some encounter issues with call quality and the platform’s ability to integrate with their homegrown CRM software. 

Related Article

Top 10 Aircall Alternatives & Competitors [2024 Guide]

4. Ooma

Ooma’s phone service comes with a variety of features, including call blocking, virtual receptionist, and voicemail forwarding. The company offers a mobile app, and you can integrate the software with Google Workspace and Salesforce.

Source: GetVoIP

Below are some features of Ooma. 

• Virtual receptionist: Directs customers to the right extension based on user input. 
• Video conferencing: Lets professionals work, connect, and collaborate over video calls. 
• Easy setup: Allows those who aren’t highly technical to set up and work with Ooma. 

Many users say positive things about Ooma’s technology, features, and pricing. However, there are concerns about weaker security, authentication, and limited customization options on the admin portal. 

Related: Ooma Business Pricing: Is it Worth it?

5. CloudTalk

CloudTalk lets businesses integrate with CRM, record calls, and route inbound omnichannel calls. The platform lets you manage calls and view analytics for easy reporting on past and present data.

Below are some features of CloudTalk.

• Three-way calling: Lets managers listen to phone calls and pitch in to offer real-time suggestions when customers are on hold. 
• Voicemail drop: Conveys messages as pre-recorded voicemails to prospects. 
• Call tagging: Labels types of calls for further analysis.  

CloudTalk users find lightweight telephony with easy integration useful. They feel the software has responsive customer support and reasonable pricing. On the other hand, some users might face limitations in the mobile app and in the interface’s intuitiveness. 

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6 Top CloudTalk Alternatives & Competitors in 2024

6. GoTo Connect

GoTo Connect lets users customize call flows, record conversations, and get detailed insight into customers’ or prospects’ discussions with the team. Although its reputation is decent in the market, users feel it has limited features compared to competitors. 

Below are some features of GoTo Connect. 

• Drag-and-drop call flow editor: Lets users easily customize call flows. 
• Call-routing schedules: Allow professionals to set and convey business hours to customers through customized greetings while routing calls as per availability. 
• Voice analytics: Get visibility of business communication through reports and dashboards. 

While GoTo Connect’s online portal may be confusing for some and may not provide 24/7 support, many users feel GoTo Connect is reliable, easy to use, and a value-for-money product. 

7. 8×8

8×8 offers VoIP service to businesses of various sizes. It’s a reliable service provider with a unified communication platform and extensive feature set, helping companies manage local and international calls, toll-free numbers, SMS, and other communication in one place. 

Below are some features of 8×8. 

• Call queuing: Keeps incoming callers on short hold while an agent becomes available. 
• Call recording: Lets users record phone calls to review later and give contextual suggestions to their team. 
• Call transfer: Forwards calls to the proper agent to assist the caller.  

The 8×8 interface and setup process may be a bit complicated, but many users appreciate the platform’s flexibility, reliability, and scalability. 

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8×8 Pricing, Plans, & Features: Is the Cost Worth It?

The Verdict? Nextiva Wins

Nextiva’s reliability, variety of features, pricing, and user-friendliness make it the top alternative to Telzio for business phone systems.  

Small business and enterprise organizations get an all-in-one business communication tool without breaking their budgets. Its predictable pricing, vast feature set, and friendly 24/7 support (on every plan) tip the scale in its favor. 

📈 Case Study: DirectBuy Scaled Its Customer Experience with Nextiva

Broadvoice is a cloud-based VoIP service for small and mid-sized businesses. Its offerings include unified communications as a service (UCaaS) and cloud PBX. 

But Broadvoice might not be the best cloud contact center solution for some businesses despite its features. If this is the case for your company, you need to know what options exist on the market and how they stack up against each other to help you choose the right Broadvoice alternative.  

What Are Some of Broadvoice’s Strengths?

Let’s look at some things users love about Broadvoice. 

Cloud PBX services 

The b-hive Communicator is Broadvoice’s cloud PBX application. It’s an all-in-one software solution with many features, including online faxing, voicemail, softphones, and remote office capabilities. 

After logging in to this app, your team members can call from your phone system from anywhere with an internet connection. This is particularly useful for businesses with remote or distributed teams because employees can make and receive calls using their business phone numbers from any location. 

SIP trunking

Not ready to move on from your legacy phone system yet? Broadvoice allows you to access limited cloud phone capabilities on your existing phone hardware. 

Specifically, it offers SIP trunking features such as call recording, call analytics, and unlimited usage options. So, you get the flexibility of a cloud phone service without the cost and time involved in overhauling an archaic business phone system. 

UCaaS features

Broadvoice has several unified communications features, including: 

• A web-based communicator tool
• SMS and text messaging
• Advanced calling functions like call routing and queueing
• Call logs
• Voicemail and faxing
• Admin call center analytics 

These UCaaS features enable businesses to power and control multichannel communications from a single platform to become more efficient. 

Mobile apps

If you need to work on the go, you can download Broadvoice’s Android or iOS applications on your smartphone device. G2 reviews suggest that this is Broadvoice’s most helpful feature, although some users say the app can be pretty buggy:

“I love the b-hive app on my cell phone! I can use the app to answer incoming calls no matter where I am, as well as [make] outgoing calls showing our main number.”

Risk-free cancellation policy

You can cancel your Broadvoice subscription for free within 30 days and get all your money back, which makes up for the lack of a free trial or freemium experience. This policy is rare in the cloud communications space.  

Why Customers Seek Alternatives to Broadvoice

Although it has appealing features, Broadvoice falls short in several areas. 

Customer service issues

Customer support isn’t Broadvoice’s strong suit. Users complain of long wait times, unhelpful support agents, and unresolved support tickets, among other issues. 

For example, one user said that the support team became nonchalant after he signed the contract, leaving him with a faulty business phone setup. And another user spent weeks waiting for feedback from the support team, only to finally receive incorrect information that did not solve their problem. 

Reliability concerns 

Broadvoice’s service quality frequently fluctuates. This manifests itself in several ways: pause and connection noises, call lagging, and interruptions during call transfers. For example, this user experienced poor audio quality and sudden call disconnections:

“We had issues with call quality. A lot of calls would cut out intermittently and sounded ‘choppy.’ On many occasions, we received feedback that it was hard to understand us when calling from Broadvoice. I understand internet issues could be involved, but we never had issues with other VoIP services on the same internet connection.”

Billing and account management

It is also common for Broadvoice users to experience billing discrepancies — either through multiple debits that aren’t refunded on time or payments that are not reflected in the system. 

For example, Broadvoice abruptly shut down this user’s telephone service with little or no warning after the cloud service provider failed to renew his monthly subscription despite charging his card multiple times. 

Poor user experience

It takes some time to learn how Broadvoice works, especially if you aren’t tech-savvy. And even when you’re up to speed, you might struggle with setting up certain features or understanding how specific aspects of the platform work. 

For example, this customer had to switch to a different texting service after finding it difficult to use Broadvoice’s Communicator application. And the administration portal lacks call flow visual aids, which makes it hard to use. 

In the App Store, Broadvoice has a 2.1 out of 5.0 score from its users. 

Limited features

As you use Broadvoice, you’ll quickly discover that most of its features are limited — as this person did: 

“Broadvoice’s call reporting is very limited, and the system doesn’t accurately account for calls transferred between users. Available SMS functionality can only be used by one user per phone number, making it impractical to manage in some cases. There aren’t available call queue options unless you upgrade to the premium contact center, which is available at a cost. Many providers offer an in-between option, but Broadvoice does not.”

6 Top Alternatives to Broadvoice

Want to switch from Broadvoice to another cloud-based VoIP service? Here are the best Broadvoice alternatives that are worth considering.

1. Nextiva 

If you’re searching for a reliable and easy-to-use cloud communications solution for your growing business, Nextiva is definitely worth looking into. 

It’s an AI-powered conversational platform integrating voice, video, and messaging services for all-in-one business communications. Nextiva’s features include advanced call management capabilities like call routing, IVR and call forwarding, CRM tools for customer personalization, and analytics. 

You get A+ customer support, too. Here’s one user’s experience with Nextiva’s team. 

2. Webex

Powered by Cisco, Webex is a collaboration tool for small and growing businesses. Its features include high-definition video conferencing, omnichannel support, and integration with other Cisco products.

What users love most about Webex is its robust security capabilities. It offers end-to-end data encryption, device authentication, and data retention controls.  

Webex has a free plan. It also has three paid plans, with the lowest tier priced at $14.50 monthly. Webex is worth checking out if your remote team prioritizes data security. 

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3. 8×8

8×8 caters to global businesses with advanced communications workflows. It offers unlimited voice calling to numerous countries, video conferencing, skills-based routing, and strong analytics capabilities. 

Despite these features, 8×8 seems to be missing some key contact center capabilities. For example, this user said that the meeting and chat functions are basic. And another struggled to download call recordings. 

8×8’s global reach and scalability make it a great choice for businesses with an international presence or those planning to expand. You can choose from one of its five plans. Pricing isn’t available on its website, so you must contact the company for a customized quote based on your business needs.

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4. GoTo Connect

Formerly known as Jive, GoTo Connect is an easy-to-use cloud phone system with voice, video, and messaging capabilities. Its top features include customizable call routing, unlimited call queues, and an extensive integrations library. 

What users love most is its user-friendly interface and flexibility. According to one customer, it’s really easy to change call flows and add out-of-office messages on the platform without needing help from the support team.  

GoTo Connect has two plans that cost $29 per user per month and $39 per user per month. It’s suitable for businesses that don’t want to be held back by unnecessary phone service complexity.  

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GoTo Connect Pricing & Plans: Is It Worth It?

5. CloudTalk

CloudTalk is a popular VoIP option for sales and customer support teams because of its CRM integration capabilities. You can sync the phone with HubSpot to get up-to-date customer data for more personalized calls. This integration comes with a one-click option that enables your sales and support agents to make calls directly from HubSpot. 

CloudTalk has other customer-centric features like advanced call routing, ring groups, and call recording. It has four pricing plans, including the Starter Plan, which costs $25 per user per month. Or you can contact the company for a tailored plan designed for your specific business use case. 

One thing to keep in mind is that CloudTalk often gets buggy. Users complain about random account logouts and app glitches. 

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6. Ooma 

Ooma is ideal for small businesses looking for an affordable, uncomplicated phone system. It offers more than 50 standard features, including call transfer and forwarding, virtual fax, and call logs. 

Ooma has three business phone plans: Essentials, Pro, and Pro Plus. Pricing for the Essentials Plan starts at $19.95 per user per month. This plan gives you access to Ooma’s standard features and specialized capabilities like a virtual receptionist and mobile app support. 

Its customer service team is pretty responsive. According to this user, “The best thing about Ooma is the great and helpful customer service. Every time I have a problem, the customer service department is there to help and provide support.” 

Ooma might be worth exploring if you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective small business phone service that gets the job done. 

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Nextiva vs. Broadvoice: Cloud PBX Pricing 

It’s important to note that all of Broadvoice’s pricing plans are based on three-year contracts. 

In contrast, Nextiva offers flexible plans with pricing that depends on the number of users and the duration. This is ideal for organizations that do not want to be locked into strict business phone contracts. 

With Nextiva, you can go month to month for the ultimate flexibility or a multi-year agreement for the most competitive price. 

Let’s look at the numbers. 

Broadvoice’s Standard Plan costs $18 per user per month, while Nextiva’s Professional Plan costs $21.95 per user per month. For a 100-person team, that’s $26,340 per year for Nextiva’s service compared with $21,600 for Broadvoice’s service. 

For a little bit more budget, your team gains advanced cloud PBX features like team collaboration, video and audio meetings, and free local and toll-free numbers, which Broadvoice’s plan doesn’t offer. 

The Verdict: Nextiva Wins

You get decent cloud communications features and pricing with Broadvoice. But upgrading to Nextiva gives you access to top-notch customer support, all-in-one UCaaS features, and an intuitive interface that’s easy to understand and use. 

Most importantly, you’ll be using a streamlined, integrated contact center solution that scales as your business grows. Say goodbye to switching software solutions every few years.

See why over 150,000 businesses made the switch. Learn how much of an impact Nextiva made on Austin Zoo in the video below. 

Related: Top 6 NICE CXOne Alternatives for Your Contact Center

Sangoma is a company you might have heard about in discussions around VoIP and unified communications. It has decent popularity on the market. However, it isn’t the only fish in the sea.

Many budget-friendly options come with greater flexibility and more features than Sangoma. These alternatives could save you cash and fulfill your business’s needs. Some of them are easy to use and offer a variety of beneficial features.

Before we explore Sangoma alternatives, let’s see why people are curious about other options and what motivates them to look for other hosted PBX providers. 

Why Customers Look for Alternatives to Sangoma

Sangoma provides a decent tool for contact centers. But, some of its platform’s limitations could make its customers eager to look for other options.

Contact center functionality

Sangoma’s Asterisk platform users might need more functionality on the reporting side. Some of them have taken their dissatisfaction to review platforms, where they have complained about the lack of tools for analyzing reports. 

Optimizing interactions with these reports becomes tricky for business owners who believe in continuous improvement.

The need for technical expertise

Sangoma offers granular setup capabilities. But, configuring and customizing it requires vast technical knowledge and considerable effort. So, IT departments with limited time, expertise, or resources might find it challenging to work with Sangoma.

Support challenges

Limited customer service echoes throughout users’ reviews. Some customers say they’ve faced challenges with their support calls. Other customers say they’ve had trouble getting the proper resolution for their issues. Yet others nitpick about having trouble with call quality. 

Hardware issues

Some users who’ve tried Sangoma’s hardware products have faced challenges in getting the system to determine the validity of the hardware, causing negative experiences with Sangoma. 

When you integrate it through APIs, some hiccups might occur. Your integration experience could be decent or moderate, depending on what you’re trying to integrate and how you’re trying to do it.

What Are Some of Sangoma’s Strengths?

Customers who use Sangoma experience some benefits from the platform. Here are the advantages of using it: 

• Unified communications: Sangoma has a unified communications platform with features such as instant messaging, call queuing, and conferencing. It’s a cloud-hosted solution that caters to customers who want their communications services all in one place. 
• Flexible pricing: The company offers a variety of contracts. There are monthly, one-year, and three-year plans. On-premise plans are priced between $19.99 and $24.99 monthly. 
• Ease of use: Sangoma’s Switchvox system offers an intuitive web interface that’s easy for both end users and administrators to use. 
• Open-source development: Sangoma commercially supports open-source VoIP and PBX projects. This increases interoperability with various products, sometimes at the risk of excessive simplicity. 

Related: 4 Better (and Easier) FreePBX Alternatives

Top 6 Alternatives to Sangoma

When you’re looking for alternatives to Sangoma, be sure to consider these six top options. Some of them clearly deliver more value than Sangoma for specific use cases. 

1. Nextiva

Nextiva is the top-rated cloud communications solution that directly replaces Sangoma. Nextiva’s unified communications platform serves the needs of SMBs and enterprises by bringing all their communications into one place. And it’s easier to manage, too!

Its VoIP phone system and contact center software make it the best choice for business owners who care deeply about their customers’ communications experiences. 

What’s Nextiva’s advantage over Sangoma? 

Nextiva’s strong partner network makes it stand out when compared with Sangoma. The partner network drives value for you through integrated solutions and services. 

The software provides affordability with scalability, so Nextiva can offer competitive pricing tiers for small and large enterprises. The company is known for its intuitive interface and high service uptime. Whether your employees are in the office, remote, or on the go, they will have smooth communication experiences. 

Nextiva has the right solution for your use case, whether it’s a cloud contact center or a small business phone system. 

Nextiva’s highly rated features

Nextiva has several valuable features: 

• Advanced call management: Nextiva automates call routing to agents while effectively managing call queues. 
• CRM integration: It integrates with popular customer relationship management software to provide a seamless experience. 
• Helpful analytics: It provides data about talk time, abandoned calls, call volumes, and agent availability, which helps you make better decisions. 
• Hosted porting: It allows users to easily port local and toll-free phone numbers. 

“Nextiva is top-notch. Since starting to work with them, I’ve legitimately encountered some of the best customer service in any realm. It’s outstanding.”

~ Chris Hayes, IT Director of Conan

2. 3CX

3CX is a proponent of open-source VoIP and PBX platforms. It appeals to businesses seeking tailor-made communications solutions. It has extensive customization options and offers a wide variety of third-party applications. 

What’s 3CX’s advantage over Sangoma? 

3CX is versatile. But, new customers who aren’t well-versed in configuring the platform might find it challenging to use, making this customizability a risk rather than a benefit.

3CX’s features

Here are a few of 3CX’s notable features: 

• Easy accessibility: The 3CX Web Client app is accessible from anywhere, whether your team is remote or on the go. 
• App-free video conferencing: The company’s platform offers browser-based video conferencing, which customers don’t need an app to use. It provides presentation and remote assistance tools with features including document sharing, chat, and polling. 
• No-limit video conferencing: 3CX doesn’t put time limits on its video conferencing service. There are no extra charges, even if you use it for an entire day of training. 

3. Five9

Five9 offers cloud-based contact center solutions with features such as AI-driven analytics, omnichannel routing, and integrations. The company has a call and contact center that helps your agents deliver better customer experiences. 

What’s Five9’s advantage over Sangoma? 

Five9’s focus on its contact center gives it an advantage over Sangoma. Five9 delivers extensive features for this specific use case. However, these extra features make the platform much more expensive than Sangoma’s if you want a simple small business phone system or a unified communications tool. 

Five9’s features

Here are a few of Five9’s notable features:

• Agent assist: It uses AI to make next best action suggestions and streamline workflows.
• CRM integration: Five9 offers prebuilt CRM integration and software development kits.
• Engagement workflow: It uses a single tool for self-service, agent guidance, and routing.

Related: The 7 Best Five9 Alternatives That Are Easy to Use

4. Genesys

Genesys offers contact center solutions with analytics, omnichannel support, and AI capabilities. It combines human and automated resources to create better customer experiences. The platform helps teams provide cross-channel support with relevant context to engage customers. 

What’s Genesys’s advantage over Sangoma? 

Genesys focuses on customer experience and advanced analytics. It provides a more sophisticated solution than Sangoma’s. 

Genesys’s features

Here are some of Genesys’s notable features:

• Workforce engagement management: The company gives professionals the tools and support they need to offer a great customer experience. 
• Analytics and reporting: Its analytics and reporting deliver interaction insights that make it easier to offer cross-channel customer experience. 
• Interactive voice response (IVR): Genesys offers call centers an IVR system that enables them to handle customer calls at scale. 

Related: 7 Genesys Alternatives to Make Scaling Your Contact Center Easier

5. Ooma

Ooma’s VoIP solution caters primarily to SMBs. It has features such as a virtual receptionist, an easy setup, and a mobile app. Ooma’s major focus is phone systems, so its offerings might not include sophisticated solutions for enterprise use cases.

What’s Ooma’s advantage over Sangoma? 

Ooma is a simple, affordable VoIP phone system that’s suitable for businesses with straightforward communications needs. It’s a good solution for customers who don’t require sophisticated phone systems.

Ooma’s features

Here are some of Ooma’s notable features:

• Call queuing: It allows you to manage incoming calls, keeping calls in the queue until agents are available.
• Accessibility: Ooma’s desktop and mobile applications make it easy for your agents to access the phone system. 
• Voicemail transcription: It emails skimmable transcriptions of voicemails to your agents. 

Related Article

Nextiva vs. Ooma: Which VoIP Provider Is Better?

6. Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone leverages the popularity of the company’s video conferencing platform. The phone service offers voice, video, and messaging integration. It comes with features such as international calling, call recording, and number porting.

What’s Zoom Phone’s advantage over Sangoma? 

Zoom Phone’s familiar interface could be appealing to business owners who want a unified communications application with strong video capabilities. Zoom Phone is tightly integrated with the company’s video conferencing service, which makes it a logical choice for some buyers. 

Zoom Phone’s features

Here are a few of Zoom Phone’s notable features: 

• Integration: It offers integration with Salesforce CRM. 
• Automatic call distribution: It uses set parameters to route calls to your agents. 
• Call recording: Zoom Phone records calls so you can review them later to help your agents optimize their performance. 

The Verdict? Nextiva Is the Best Sangoma Alternative

After exploring multiple alternatives to Sangoma, you can see that Nextiva shines more brightly than the other options. It’s packed with features that make it a smart solution for unified communications. 

Nextiva is easy to configure and navigate. Its UI/UX makes it flexible and customizable for users who aren’t very tech-savvy. Nextiva’s partner network and its best-in-class support make it a well-rounded solution. 

You’ll probably come out ahead when you compare the costs of its phone system to those of its competitors. Don’t cut corners. Give your team a complete communications platform. 

Related: Top 8 Talkdesk Alternatives for Contact Centers on a Budget

A PABX is more or less synonymous with an upgrade of the corresponding private branch exchange (PBX).

PABX systems have evolved enormously over the past few decades — from purely analog systems to today’s digital PABX solutions that use voice-over IP (VoIP service) and bring a host of advanced features.

In this article, we’ll overview PABX systems, explore their key components, and discuss the benefits they offer businesses over standard phone lines.

Whether upgrading your telephony infrastructure or learning more about this integral tool for organizational communication, this article will get you up to speed on private automatic branch exchanges.

What Is PABX?

PABX stands for private automatic branch exchange. It’s a private telephone network used within an organization to allow internal communication and connection to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

PABX offers a business solution for companies that need many lines for in-house and outside calls. It lets companies use a single access number with several extensions, which is cheaper than using many separate direct landlines linked to the public network.

A company that uses PBX or PABX acts like a telephone exchange within its facilities. PABX automates the switching tasks needed to connect calls between extensions.

That’s the “A” in the acronym — it means automatic. In contrast, traditional PBX systems need human switchboard operators to manually connect phone users.

A PABX system is often owned and administered by the company hosting it on its premises. Many call centers and large enterprises use PABX to handle high call volumes efficiently. Common features include auto attendant, call conferencing, call holding, call forwarding, voicemail, and call transfer.

Modern PABX systems use VoIP technology, which is lower cost and has better scalability than legacy landline systems. Cloud-based PABX solutions are also now available.

What Is the Difference Between PBX and PABX?

PBX and PABX are both private telephone networks. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably when referring to private business phone networks.

The key difference is that PABX systems automate the call-switching process, while PBX originally referred to manually operated switchboards, but it can also be automated.

PABX emerged later as an automated system using computerized switching equipment instead of manual switchboard operators. This automated the call routing within the private phone network.

How Does a PABX System Work?

Modern PABX systems interface with the public phone network and route calls digitally using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and VoIP technologies.

PABX works like a mini version of a public telephone exchange. A typical system has both software and hardware, including telephone units, routers, fax machines, modems, hubs, adapters, and switches.

A company can run its internal phone network using local phone extensions with PABX. These extensions correspond to specific phones and devices used in the corporate building.

This system simplifies internal telephone communication. In-house calls don’t need to go beyond the local network, and users can also make in-house connections with the touch of a button.

A PABX often greets an incoming call with a recorded message. This greeting is also called Interactive Voice Response (IVR). It usually requests a number for the caller to dial to reach the correct department or say their commands.

The PABX routes incoming calls based on the code or extension number.

For outgoing calls, a PBX connects with the public telephone exchange. A traditional PBX has one or more external (trunk) lines. It has a fixed number of internal lines (extensions) connected to the trunk line. Staff and other local users need to share the external lines to make outside calls.

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What Is Direct Inward Dialing (DID) & How Does It Work?

Evolution of PABX

The PABX system has advanced significantly over the years. Here’s a quick overview of the different types of PABX systems and their evolution:

1. Analog PABX

Analog PABX systems have been around since the late 19th century. They use analog signals and PSTN over copper wiring to connect extensions to a central control unit.

Tradition PABX systems were limited in features and functionalities, prone to signal degradation over distances, and difficult to reconfigure or scale up.

But they did offer some benefits. The traditional PBX was inexpensive to install and operate, easy to troubleshoot and maintain, and reliable and durable hardware. But times have changed.

2. Digital PABX

Digital PABX systems were introduced in the 1970s and have mostly replaced analog systems today. They use digital signals instead of analog ones.

They support more extensions and lines, offer advanced call routing features, are easy to reprogram and scale up, and provide more reliable voice and data transfer.

3. Cloud-based PABX

With the rise of VoIP, cloud-based PABX solutions have emerged. These systems use cloud infrastructure rather than on-premise hardware.

Cloud-based PBX systems are better. They can have a limitless number of lines or extensions, and the Internet protocol also allows multimedia communications.

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Key Features of PABX Systems

A PABX allows organizations to use more phone units than their physical phone lines. Companies just need to assign extension numbers to each telephone unit. Moreover, PABX users can have internal calls for free.

The following basic functions and advanced features are available in most PABX systems:

1. Call routing and forwarding

• Auto Attendant (Digital Receptionist): Automatically connects callers to the target extension number using a menu.
• Call Forwarding: Lets admins route incoming calls based on specific criteria.
• Call Transfer: Enables a user to hand off a live call to another user or extension.
• Voicemail: Provide callers with the option to leave a voicemail message to ensure you can follow up.
• IVR: Works like an upgraded auto attendant for account inquiries, product information requests, and other purposes.

2. Mobility and remote work capabilities

• Automatic Ring Back: Enables users to pre-dial a busy line and receive a ring back when it’s available, supporting remote/mobile workers.
• Direct Dial Numbers: Allows callers to bypass IVRs to connect to intended numbers directly.

2. Conferencing and collaboration tools

• Conference Call: Allows speaking with more than one party at the same time.
• Call Parking: Allows users to put an ongoing call on hold on one device and continue on another.
• Call Recording: Used for documentation, monitoring, training, or other purposes by integrating with other applications.

4. Security and reliability

• Do Not Disturb (DND): Blocks incoming calls to a specific extension.
• Ring Groups: Instructs phones to ring in sequence or simultaneously for reliability.

Benefits of PABX

PABX offers lower costs, flexibility to grow, advanced features, centralized management and control, professionalism, and integration with cutting-edge technologies. Here are some of the main benefits of using a PABX phone system:

1. Cost Savings – PABX systems allow businesses to use internal extensions to connect employees. This reduces the need for external phone lines and saves on telephone service costs.
2. Scalability – PABX systems can be easily expanded by adding new extensions as a business grows. This eliminates the need to install an entirely new phone system.
3. Advanced Features – Modern PABX systems include advanced features like auto attendants, voicemail, call routing, caller ID, call monitoring, and more. This improves communication and productivity.
4. Centralized Control – PABX systems are centrally controlled, making it easier for administrators to manage the entire phone network of a company from one location. Settings and configurations can be applied globally.
5. Improved Professionalism – With features like auto attendants, voicemail, and call routing to the right extensions, PABX systems help project a professional image for businesses. This makes for better customer service.
6. Integration Capabilities – Many PABX systems have APIs to integrate with CRM software, AI chatbots, and other helpful technologies. This further boosts productivity and service quality.
7. Mobility Options – Some modern systems come with mobile apps or have mobile phone integration. This allows employees to have flexible call options and lowers business phone costs.

How To Choose the Right PABX System

When thinking about using a PABX, it all boils down to choosing the right solution. How? Here are 6 key considerations for choosing a PABX system.

• Consider your business needs. Evaluate number of employees, phone lines required, features like call routing, voicemail, etc. A growing business will need a scalable system.
• Look at hardware and deployment options. PABX systems can be hardware appliances, software-based, or cloud-based for flexibility.
• Ensure scalability for future growth. The system should allow easy addition of extensions, lines, and advanced features. A cloud-based PABX offers more scalability.
• Check reliability and redundancy. The system must have dual power supplies, and failover mechanisms to avoid any downtime.
• Evaluate call quality. The system should offer clear call quality even during peak usage periods through sufficient bandwidth allocation.

Migrate Your PABX To the Cloud

PABX gives businesses more control and flexibility over their voice communication processes. It’s a viable solution for internal collaboration. It’s also perfect for making and receiving outside calls. But installing expensive hardware can be a pain for many businesses.

Thankfully, many ways exist to build an IP PABX/PBX system. The two most common are:

• Start from the ground up. The better and more affordable option for this case is to go for a hosted IP-based PBX system.
• Upgrade existing traditional (landline) telephone systems. Integrate existing phone numbers and hardware via a SIP trunk provider.

Both methods use an internet connection to improve business telephony. They use ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) to process different types of data. Treat both as a data network rather than just voice.

To simplify the work, VoIP phone services like Nextiva give businesses more control and flexibility over their voice communication processes. Its cloud-based model also provides the flexibility to scale up or down as business needs evolve.

For any company looking to enhance its telephony capabilities, Nextiva is the best replacement for an IP PBX or a traditional PABX solution.

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FAQs on PABX

Need a direct phone number for your team member? Then you want a Direct Inward Dial number, known as a DID.

A DID allows callers to reach your employee directly without going through an automated attendant, receptionist, or call center. This differs from an internal phone extension, which only works for those calling from within your company’s phone system.

Using DID numbers for key team members boosts connectivity and efficiency as your business grows — whether you’re a small bsuiness building key customer relationships or enterprises strengthening existing relationships or keeping a professional image intact.

In this article, we provide an in-depth look at Direct Inward Dialing, how it works, and its benefits to businesses today.

What Is Direct Inward Dialing?

Direct inward dialing (DID) is a phone system feature that allows external callers to dial directly to an internal extension without having to go through a switchboard or attendant. It assigns each user/extension in an organization a unique external phone number. So external callers can call specific people directly rather than through a receptionist.

To help you use DID, telephone service providers connect a block of telephone numbers to your company’s Private Branch Exchange (PBX) phone system.

With DIDs, businesses can set up virtual numbers that bypass the main reception lines and go directly to a desk extension or group of extensions. DID can be used with local, premium-rate, or toll-free numbers.

Other common names for DID are direct-dial numbers, direct dial, and direct dial-ins. Essentially, when someone says, “Reach me at my direct number,” this is what they’re referring to.

Direct inward dialing offers businesses convenience, customized call routing, and a more professional image.

What Is a DID Number?

From a customer’s or client’s perspective, a direct-dial number looks like any standard telephone number. However, DID is a virtual phone number that goes directly to an extension or location in your company. Think of it as a shortcut phone line.

These direct-dial phone numbers point inbound calls to an organization’s phone system. The function of relaying callers to an individual user makes that number “direct.” The VoIP phone system manages this dedicated call routing.

Unlike a landline (or POTS line), these numbers are directly routed through your company’s phone system.

How Direct Inward Dialing Works

Traditionally, DID works in one of two ways: through Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) lines or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Let’s start with PSTN.

1. Direct Dialing on PSTN

First, a telephone service provider connects a set of trunk lines to the customer’s hosted PBX. Next, a provider allocates a block of phone numbers and assigns these to the customer as their direct-dial numbers.

When an inbound call reaches one of the direct-dial numbers, it is forwarded to the customer’s PBX via the trunk line. When the call arrives at the PBX, the dialed number and calling party are provided.

Finally, the PBX routes the incoming call directly to one of the business’ phone extensions without the need for an operator or an auto attendant.

In older phone systems, direct dial functioned by using analog circuits. This meant that the customer’s equipment had to provide the low-voltage signaling for the phones in the system to work.

The telephone company’s Central Office (CO) would check to determine if the line was operational and disable the circuit if it wasn’t terminating properly.

More recently, traditional phone services offer DID via Primary Rate Interface (PRI) circuits. These require you to have adequate trunk lines leased from the telephone company.

2. Direct Inward Dialing on VoIP

VoIP is the most modern and flexible way to employ virtual direct-dial numbers with the help of SIP trunking. SIP makes the trunk line connections available as needed. These are not physical lines but virtual links across broadband only when you require them.

These virtual links are configured internally, and the numbers are linked to your extensions by a software application. You can do this yourself or have your VoIP provider do it for you.

DID on VoIP is highly scalable. For example, if you decide you’d like to launch a sales campaign next month that requires you to have 20 new trunk lines, you can easily do it yourself.

There’s no need to contact your telephone company, wait for them to allocate a block of numbers, and then send out a technician to physically connect the trunk lines to your business PBX.

3. DIDs for Faxing

The simplest way to use DID as a fax service is to connect your direct-dial line to a fax machine. Sounds simple, right? However, you’d be missing out on the more useful and powerful ways to route fax calls with DID.

A popular practice is to assign a block of direct-dial numbers to a computer that runs a fax server. This allows for multiple fax numbers for your company linked to a particular machine or even multiple devices.

Just like each team member within your company has an email address, you can assign them a fax number. When a fax comes in for a particular individual, it can be routed to the printer in their work area or even their computer and its printer.

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How to Fax Over the Internet (in 5 Easy Steps)

Types of DIDs

The main advantage of DID is it allows direct external access to employees and departments over a single shared telephone line. Companies can allocate numbers based on their communication needs and workflows.

Here are some common types of DID numbers to choose from:

• Individual DID numbers: Each employee is assigned a unique external phone number that routes directly to them. This allows outside callers to reach specific employees without going through a switchboard.
• Department DID numbers: A whole department or workgroup shares a single DID number. The number rings a group of phones in that department so multiple people can easily handle calls.
• Location-based DID numbers: A specific DID number is assigned for each office location or branch of a company. Calls to that number ring phones at only that site.
• Toll-free DID numbers: Also known as toll-free phone numbers, external callers can reach employees/departments for free. The 800 number is routed to internal extensions.
• Virtual DID numbers: Numbers are not tied to a physical phone line but are hosted virtually. Calls are routed to whatever desk phones, softphones, or mobile phones the company specifies.
• Auto attendant DID numbers: Callers hear a menu of dialing options for different people/departments when calling this type of DID number, routing calls without a human operator.

Benefits of Using DIDs

DIDs offer plenty of benefits compared to traditional phone lines. The ability to dial employees directly is extremely useful for most modern businesses. Here are some notable benefits:

💰Cost and operational efficiencies

With DID, you can reduce the number of trunk lines required to connect your business. With a VoIP system, you can even forward the DIDs to different continents, saving long-distance costs.

VoIP helps direct-ins occur in the telephone network, and virtually, you won’t need to buy all new phones or hardware.

📱Better flexibility and mobility

With DID, you have more control over where and when you receive calls. A mobile workforce demands a flexible solution. Combining the power of VoIP, DID, and SIP with mobile phones, email, and SMS equals a more robust telecommunications system for your business.

You can also automatically forward calls to different numbers at given times. This is great for after-hours support for different time zones, especially for global teams.

📈 Improved customer experience

Customers can reach employees when they need them without hurdles. That can be a remarkable experience from the customer’s perspective.

People typically prefer to call local phone numbers. A business operating in New York can easily set up a phone number in Miami or London for customers in that market.

By assigning different numbers to different marketing campaigns, you can accurately track the performance of each campaign, find areas for improvement, and enhance the customer experience even further.

✅ Productivity

Routing calls to the person directly, without the need for a receptionist or phone menu, saves time. Follow-up becomes easier for customers when their agent has a single number.

It also fosters better communication. Employees contact team members via a dedicated extension, even if they’re in different buildings, cities, or even countries.

You can even have your direct-dial line automatically forward incoming calls to your mobile phone or other temporary numbers without the customer knowing these private numbers.

Different Applications of DID

DIDs have many uses beyond basic business phone systems.

Examples of how businesses use DIDs:

• Sales teams often use dedicated DIDs for lead-generation campaigns to track the performance of specific numbers and promotions.
• Customer service departments can set up DIDs for billing questions, tech support, or general inquiries and have calls routed more efficiently.
• Marketing teams use unique, temporary DIDs for certain advertising campaigns or events. Using a specific DID allows them to gauge response rates.
• Organizations with multiple locations can set up a DID for each location to allow seamless transfers between branches.
• Government agencies may use DIDs to direct calls to appropriate departments or personnel more efficiently.

Drawbacks of DID Phone Numbers

There are cases where a DID number may not be the right option for your business.

For example, if you’ve experienced turnover recently and have direct-dial numbers assigned to former employees. Limited employee availability may also impact your decision to go with DID.

It’s up to your business to determine the importance of having customers, clients, and vendors reach departments directly.

Here are some common limitations of DID and ways to mitigate them:

1. Limited call routing 

When using a basic DID, calls are directly routed to the assigned extension, offering limited control over call flow. This can be inefficient for managing high call volumes or directing callers to specific departments. Employ virtual receptionists, IVR menus, or call queuing for efficient call distribution.

2. Security concerns

DIDs can be vulnerable to unauthorized access if proper security measures are not in place. Safeguard DIDs with strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and call masking.

3. Missing call insights

Basic DIDs often lack detailed call tracking features, making it difficult to analyze call data and optimize call handling. Choose providers with call tracking and integrate with your CRM for comprehensive data analysis.

4. High costs

Depending on the usage patterns and chosen features, DIDs can be more expensive compared to traditional phone lines. Negotiate volume discounts, utilize pay-as-you-go options, or explore alternative VoIP solutions.

How to Get DID Numbers

Give your customers and vendors a way to reach people and departments in your company with a Direct Inward Dialing phone number. DID allows inbound callers to skip the phone tree and bypass call queues.

The first step is to obtain one or more business phone numbers. It’s likely you already have some business phone numbers.

You can transfer these through a method known as porting. Next, you would assign these to each user in your phone system. This can be done from the administrative dashboard effortlessly.

Adding the direct-dial features your team needs is simple when you go with an experienced VoIP provider, like Nextiva. We’ll help you determine how many direct-dial numbers you’ll need and what the most cost-effective solution for your business will be.

Once your DID service is set up, inbound callers will be able to reach your teams with low friction. In a world where great customer service is a competitive advantage, direct-dial numbers are just another way to provide personalized experiences.

FAQs on Direct Inward Dialing

Upgrading business phone systems can be daunting when balancing costs and capabilities.

SIP lines and SIP trunking provide affordable ways to upgrade from traditional landline systems, removing reliance on outdated technology like public switched telephone networks (PSTN) and physical lines for business communications.

While traditional PRI and analog lines only process voice data and offer limited features, SIP solutions enable voice, video, instant messaging, and more over a company’s existing internet infrastructure through internet telephony.

SIP trunking specifically allows large call capacity scaling through a single conduit, cost-effectively meeting evolving business needs without requiring on-premise infrastructure.

It helps to know what each offers so you can choose the solution that fits your business needs.

In this article, we’ll discuss SIP lines and SIP trunks and the key differences between them. We’ll also discuss how these solutions can affordably upgrade communications for evolving business needs.

What Is a SIP Trunk?

A session initiation protocol (SIP) trunk refers to a communications medium that connects a company’s private branch exchange (PBX) or PABX to the web. It works like a digital version of the traditional phone line.

As its name suggests, a SIP trunk is analogous to a tree trunk that can have many branches. Each branch represents a unique line or a phone extension.

Many SIP lines can share a single SIP trunk.

For example, a company can have one SIP trunk that can support many desktop phones, softphones, and mobile phones. Each phone call uses a single line that consumes a certain amount of bandwidth.

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What is SIP trunking?

SIP trunking is a method used to enable business phones to work over an internet connection instead of a traditional landline. Technically, it also broadens the multimedia processing capabilities of both plain-old telephone service (POTS) and basic Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) enabled phone networks.

SIP trunking allows companies to transmit and receive different types of data, including voice calls, text, and video.

A SIP trunk is different than a SIP phone. A SIP phone is a device (like a desk phone or speakerphone) that can establish phone calls via the SIP protocol.

It can be considered a quantum leap in the field of business communications. That’s because of its radical benefits when it comes to cost savings, scalability, flexibility, and return on investment.

What Is a SIP Line?

A SIP line refers to a branch that comes from a SIP trunk. It’s also called a channel or a session. SIP lines act as lanes for exchanging communication data between two points or locations.

In a call session, a SIP line represents a unit’s capacity to support one incoming or outgoing call.

A large number of SIP lines can be configured from a single SIP trunk. In VoIP call centers, one SIP trunk can hold hundreds of SIP channels. Each call takes up one channel. As such, most businesses generally need just a single SIP trunk to cover all their communication needs.

The exact number of SIP lines a company requires depends on the average number of concurrent calls it handles at any time in the workday.

Depending on the service provider (ITSP), a company can have a SIP trunking plan with:

• Unlimited SIP lines
• A fixed count of SIP lines with unlimited minutes
• A number of session minutes that can be distributed across an unlimited number of channels
• Multiple trunks for multiple offices where all users are on the same calling network

SIP Line vs. SIP Trunk

It’s easy to confuse SIP trunks with SIP lines. They can be interchanged in some contexts.

A SIP line connects a single phone or device to make VoIP calls over the internet. It enables one device to make and receive calls.

A SIP trunk connects an entire business phone system or PBX to a VoIP provider. It lets the whole internal phone network make and receive calls over the internet.

Capacity

• SIP Line: Allows one device to make/receive calls.
• SIP Trunk: Allows multiple devices/phones to make calls simultaneously. A SIP trunk is one-to-many while a SIP line is one-to-one.

Features

• SIP Line: Basic call capabilities for a single device.
• SIP Trunk: Enables features like call routing, IVRs, and call handling/transferring, through the business PBX. The intelligence sits with the phone system rather than the end device.

Scalability

• SIP Line: Adding lines is tedious as each device needs its own line.
• SIP Trunk: Easy to add more phone lines as a business grows by simply adding more phones to the existing PBX/SIP trunk.

How To Choose Between SIP lines and SIP trunks

SIP line supports one incoming or outgoing call at a time and is ideal for small businesses with low call volume. If you rarely have more than one or two calls happening simultaneously, SIP lines offer a simple and cost-effective option.

They’re also easy to scale. You can add individual SIP lines as your needs grow. But it may require additional hardware. You might need an IP-PBX system to manage calls across multiple lines.

SIP trunks can carry multiple concurrent calls (usually 10-30 or more) and are best for businesses with higher call volume. If you frequently have multiple employees on the phone, a SIP trunk offers more efficient use of your internet bandwidth.

It’s also highly scalable. You can easily increase the number of channels within your trunk as your business grows. Plus you don’t need additional hardware. Your VoIP provider handles call management.

Consider the following when choosing between SIP lines and SIP trunks:

• Cost: SIP lines are generally cheaper per line, but SIP trunks can be more cost-effective for businesses with many concurrent calls.
• Reliability: Both options rely on your internet connection for call quality.
• Features: SIP trunks often offer additional features like call forwarding, voicemail, and conferencing.

Benefits of SIP Trunking

It’s only a matter of time until landline phones will become obsolete. Because you don’t want your business to go down with outdated technology, making the right investments now matters. With pretty much everything going digital, SIP trunking can help you thrive in the new economy.

1) Easy Setup/Low Maintenance. You don’t need physical phone lines and other hardware to install and maintain a SIP trunk. A reliable internet connection will do.

2) Affordability/Lower Costs. SIP trunks can reduce phone service expenses significantly. In-network calls, as well as long-distance domestic calls, are free. Meanwhile, international calls cost a fraction of traditional fees.

3) Scalability. Getting extra SIP lines is much easier than having a SIP trunk installed. All you have to do is inform your SIP provider — no need for additional hardware

4) Dependability. SIP trunks allow for better risk management through service redundancy and reliability. For example, you can have calls forwarded to secondary phones when a rare internet outage occurs.

5) Enhanced Customer Service. SIP trunking gives you a full range of multimedia and unified communications capabilities. This can improve sales, marketing, and customer service. In addition to voice services, you can include SMS texting, file sharing, and web conferencing in the package.

Although a better solution, since SIP trunks rely on the public internet, you risk call quality issues or failed calls due to bad network connectivity. You also need to account for potential security issues, dependency on broadband, and power failures.

Make sure to assess the potential drawbacks and mitigate them by setting up better security measures, firewalls, power backup options, and above all, choosing the right VoIP provider.

Before You Choose SIP….

SIP trunking is an excellent investment for your team’s productivity. But not all SIP trunk services are the same.

When evaluating SIP trunking providers for your VoIP phone system or VoIP phone service, be sure to consider factors like reliability, scalability, and features.

To get the best deal for your business, here are tips to evaluate and select a SIP provider:

• Audit your existing business communications network. Take stock of your current phone system and infrastructure. Are you already using VoIP technology or still relying on older POTS copper lines? An upgrade may be in order.
• Clearly define your business communication goals and requirements. Think about your expected headcount growth, plans to open additional office locations, and desired functionality like video conferencing, call center features, mobility needs, etc. This will help match your needs to the provider’s capabilities.
• Identify the most important evaluation criteria to guide your selection process. Examine aspects like specific VoIP features offered, pricing models and scalability, call quality assurances, security protocols, customer reviews, breadth of customer support, geographic coverage areas, and integration with your other systems and devices.
• Ensure you have a compatible PBX phone system installed. A SIP trunk connects to your backend Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system that manages call routing and functions. Choose a SIP provider that integrates well with your existing hardware/software PBX platform.
• Research and compare multiple providers under consideration. Read third-party review websites like GetVoIP, Software Advice, and G2 to evaluate the reputation and capabilities of each. Reach out for demos, quotations, and trials.
• Thoroughly evaluate each prospective vendor. Go beyond assessing the service fees alone to consider the overall value of the partnership you are entering into. Test their customer service response time and knowledge. Assess how flexible they are to grow with your evolving needs.
• Make an educated, informed provider choice that aligns with your telephone needs and budget. Don’t just select the cheapest option without weighing factors like features, reliability, and long-term support. Take your time to choose the right SIP trunking service provider.