Office Phone Systems Peterborough

Types of Office phone systems for Peterborough Businesses

Traditional Landline Systems

Landlines in this instance are the traditional phone systems we have become used to over the last 50 years, typically supported by a local or regional phone company.

Sometimes called Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), landlines are analogue systems that run via the telephone company’s traditional copper wiring.

To run a landline service, you need on-premises Private Branch Exchange (PBX) hardware. The hardware has the capability to create multiple extensions and provide phone system features, such as call transferring and call directories.

As with many pieces of equipment nowadays some landline systems today are considered hybrids with VoIP systems. These are a traditional phone line that connects to a business’s data network, which it uses to connect each individual phone.

Its important to note that this technology is dated and being phased out

Advantages of traditional: Landline systems are a reliable, time-tested solution that many companies are comfortable using.

Disadvantages of traditional: Most phone system providers are moving away from landlines, making them more difficult not only to purchase but to repair. It’s only a matter of time before these systems become obsolete.

Just because you have always used traditional landline systems that doesn’t mean that everything is going to continue to be ok.

The problem with traditional landline systems isn’t there functionality; they still operate at a high level. The biggest issue you will run into with traditional landline business phone systems is that new options are no longer being built. This means that no new technology is being developed for traditional landline systems.

With no new software upgrades are available for landlines this means you won’t have access to many new features and capabilities.

Combine this with the fact that, finding experts to provide customer service and support for these traditional phone systems, is increasingly difficult in this digital world. Additionally availability of the components to keep landline systems up and running, are becoming more difficult to obtain.

At some point, likely in the very near future, new features for VoIP systems won’t be compatible with landline systems. Depending on the feature, that could very well put your business at a significant disadvantage.

Traditional is most suitable for: Large corporations that have the budget for them and an in-house IT staff to manage and maintain them. Also suitable for businesses without high-speed internet access

VoIP Phone Systems

Instead of the copper wires that landlines run on, VoIP phone systems use the same internet connection that a company already uses.

VoIP systems provide a feature set that previously only large businesses and corporations using expensive PBX hardware had access to. With VoIP facilities such as call queues, automated attendants and computer integration, which allows voicemails to be sent to email inboxes and computers to be turned into softphones.

In the post Covid, hybrid working environment VoIP systems give remote workers access to the business’s phone system from their mobile devices.

Advantages of VoIP phone systems: VoIP provides a sophisticated phone system with all the features and functionality not previously available to a smaller business. With a specialist Telecoms provider like Peterborough Telecoms VoIP systems are easy to set up and configure, and they are significantly cheaper than landline systems.

Disadvantages of VoIP phone systems: VoIP systems rely on your internet connection. If you’re located in a building or area with intermittent/ low quality internet service, this type of phone system won’t work for you. Solutions are available to overcome broadband internet outages? Our customers are able to maintain their telephone service even if their office internet connection goes down; through the use of the mobile app.

VoIP Phone Systems are best for: Medium & Small businesses wanting the functionality of a sophisticated phone system at a reasonable price and businesses that want their remote employees to have access to the phone system

In talking to a specialist if you decide that a VoIP system is best for your business, your next decision is how you want it hosted. Where as landline systems require you to house the equipment inside your business, VoIP systems give you the option to buy your equipment outright and self-host or to rent the equipment from your service provider, who hosts it in the cloud.

Office phone systems Peterborough – How do you know which one is right for your business?

The answer to this question really comes down to your resources. You need to consider your budget, whether your business is growing, whether you have an IT staff capable of running and maintaining an in-house phone system, and whether you have access to a high-speed internet connection.

When you choose a phone provider for your small business, it is important to find a service that not only has the features and tools you want in a phone system but also offers the level of customer support you expect from a vendor partner.

If you are considering a cloud-hosted system, one factor you want to give serious thought is uptime. This is how often the system is operational. When the system is down, you won’t have access to your telephone services. When speaking with different providers, ask about their uptime stats and the level of customer support they provide. For more information on Office Phone Systems Peterborough click here