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Updated by au-alltel on Jul 21, 2022
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Types of Business Phone Systems for SMEs: A Comparison Guide

Our view on business communications has significantly changed over the last two decades. Instead of a one-size fits all solution to communications, today’s entrepreneurs prefer services that are tailored for their needs and embrace their unique requirements. Through this business phone system comparison guide, we’ll take a closer look at small business phone systems, and help you identify which type fits your needs best.

Source: https://www.alltel.com.au/business-phone-system-comparison-guide-smes/

1

Business Landlines

Landlines are the most basic of phone services. They can make calls and receive them. As a business-grade service delivered on a business network, voice quality and customer support is significantly superior over residential services.

Business landlines are sufficient if you need a straightforward phone solution with one number per line. This is also required to support ADSL connections, fax & EFTPOS machines, and back-to-base alarm systems.

2

Business VoIP Service

These full-featured business phone systemsoffer flexibility and lower call rates by delivering basic telephony and advanced features over the internet. With plug and play phones, you can expect time and cost savings on installation. These business phones allow you to work anywhere, as long as there’s a stable internet connection.

3

Hosted PBX System

A hosted phone system functions like an enterprise PBX, but without the costly setup and maintenance expenses. With calls and features delivered over the internet; you can enjoy more flexibility, reliability, and lower call rates. Unlike business VoIP, a hosted PBX system is fully scalable and highly customisable with feature enhancements and advanced call queues.

4

SIP Trunking Service

This service consolidates your lines into trunks, which means you’re not paying for an external line for every internal number. Aside from the cost-savings of using the internet to connect to the public network, a SIP solution makes businesses more resilient by allowing calls to be routed to alternate numbers in cases of extreme weather, emergencies, or outages.

5

Unified Communications

Having a unified communications solution extends the functionality of your business phone system to devices such as mobiles and desktops. At the same time, this promotes accountability by minimising the use of personal numbers, and keeping all communications under your business numbers. More importantly, it connects staff in and outside the office, with features like instant messaging, real-time file transfers, and screen sharing.

6

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network, also known as ISDN, is a type of telephone system that carries both voice and data in digital format rather than waves.

In recent years, new systems have been able to improve upon the capabilities of ISDN. Because of this, ISDN connections are being switched off across Australia. Telstra, in cooperation with the NBN, has ceased the sale of new ISDN connections and services. Forced disconnection will start in September 2019 and will be complete by 2022.