Why Virtual PBX Originated

June 18, 2008

The acronym PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange and a virtual PBX system is a telephone exchange system designed to serve an individual business. When first created, virtual PBX phone systems were meant to assist companies in controlling their phone systems through operators located on-site. However, the virtual PBX phone system concept has gone beyond the original idea of connecting calls. Businesses, from the single entrepreneur to the largest corporations, can now connect into the system fax lines, computer modems, and all other technologies that can be routed through a phone line.

When the PBX system was first developed and implemented into a company, all of the work was handled in-house, which meant that the company needed their own manpower to handle the technology. Companies needed to find a solution to handle their growing communication needs and eventually the idea for third-party intervention, which involved using a hosted system, located outside of the business and is hosted by another company, whose own staff is dedicated to handling the technology.

Companies were able to increase efficiency by not having to manage the communications technology and in time the virtual PBX system became more innovated and offered more options for improving the communication levels and resources for the individual companies. Companies were able to access voice mails, faxes, and e-mails from anywhere outside of the office. Additionally, features such as call-waiting, call-forwarding, and automated attendants helped companies achieve more versatility and reliability than ever before.

While company employees were able to gain more independence from the desk and be more available to help clients and customers, what was truly important was the pricing and the ability to select features and plans, rather than pay outrageous rates for top of the line technology.  Plus, the virtual PBX phone system required no additional hardware or physical equipment in order to work. There is also very little training necessary to get the technology up and running for all staff.

While a virtual PBX system may not be right for every single business, it is definitely a resource that many companies, large and small, have come to rely on for all of their ever important communication needs.

Posted in Business Communications, CAll Handling, Virtual PBX, Virtual PBX Features