The debate between whether hosted VOIP is more advantageous when compared to the traditional telecom and IPBX systems is an on-going process. There is no clear explanation and the decision will primarily depend on the requirements of the specific businesses. Before you make a choice and opt for one of the two choices, it is important to understand their differences.
Hosted Service vs in-house IPBX Service:
As can be determined from the name, hosted VOIP uses third parties that offer hosting services and capabilities. On the other hand, the IPBX systems require the acquisition of the necessary hardware, which is installed within the business premises. The latter systems needs more space to house the various equipment and is also more cost intensive, which makes the former a more beneficial option.
Another advantage for hosted VOIP services is the minimal costs incurred towards activation and setup. The initial costs for acquiring the hardware and equipment is significant for the IPBX systems and can run into tens of thousands of pounds. This type of service also requires periodic maintenance to ensure it functions smoothly, which is not a requirement for the hosted VOIP system because the third party service provider is responsible for the same.
Scalble Benefits of Hosted Voip:
Businesses can also upgrade and scale up the systems instantly without any difficulties. The administrative authority is provided online interface access to scale up the system. In contrast, such scalability is not possible with the traditional system and may require purchasing additional lines and other hardware.
Maintaining a smoothly functional IPBX system requires time and efforts while entailing maintenance expenses. Businesses may also need to employ additional personnel to ensure there are no problems and if one arises it is resolved at the earliest. These limitations do not exist in the hosted VOIP systems and any problem that may arise is handled and rectified by the service provider within a short period of time.
The IPBX system provides more control to the business owners. If additional features need to be added, the owners can do so without contacting any third party service provider. Although, hosted VOIP offers this flexibility through online access, the customization of features is limited to a certain extent. That said, hosted VoIp customers can add a wealth of features far more economically than IPBX users can, and by simply checking that the hosted VoIP provider can avail you of all the features you need before ordering, you can save thousands of pounds in hardware and management costs.
Additional benefits of the hosted VOIP systems include lower call rates to long-distance numbers, standard video calling features, and no extra dial tone expenses. Small and medium businesses can benefit from the affordable monthly packages offered by third party service providers. Taking into consideration the above-mentioned factors will help business owners determine the most appropriate option to match their specific requirements. For most businesses, hosted VoIP is by far the most cost economical and practical solution.
