What Telephone System Do You Need?

It is virtually impossible to image an enterprise without a
robust telephone system. An efficient telephone system is
required not only to reach out to the thousands of the
customers, but also to communicate between the office
members as a part of a meeting or conference, or to
facilitate the routine communication between the mangers
and the work force. In short, the more robust the telephone
system in a business, the better and efficient would be the
work coordination and hence the overall performance of its
employees. This article discusses a few telephone systems
that are usually associated with businesses.

Telephone systems in enterprises can be classified into
three types – KSU less phones, preferably for small
businesses, Key systems for mid sized enterprises, and the
more elaborate Private Branch Exchange (PBX) for larger
corporations.

KSU less phone systems are meant for businesses that do not
need more than ten extensions. If there is another plus
with such small business phone systems, then it is its
installation and maintenance cost, which are relatively
very low, and yes, the monthly expense in terms of phone
tariffs. Also, since KSU less phone systems are temporary
connections, moving it to a new location, such as in the
case of an office shift, is not a big deal. Simply unplug
the telephone system and plug it back in the new office. If
yours is a small business or a start up, installing a KSU
less telephone system would be the ideal choice. You can
upgrade it to a more complex telephone system as the
enterprise grows.

As mentioned, Key systems and Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
are required for larger businesses. PBX is essential if the
employee strength is more than 40 and frequent
communication with more than member at a time –
conferencing – and enhanced call management is a necessity.
By call management, it implies the different communication
modes such as call forwarding, call waiting, voice mail and
fax, and the telephone system's much needed compatibility
with other electronic devices such as the printers, PC, and
the web. PBX definitely costs more than the KSU less
telephone systems, but, then the phone companies offer
different communication packages depending upon the client
requirements, and its prices vary with the features that
each package includes. If your business wants a feature
filled service, you may have to shell out more money.

Key system, on the other hand, is tailor made for medium
sized enterprises whose employee strength falls between 10
and 40. The PBX and Key systems are usually installed and
maintained by the service provider himself unlike the KSU
less ones.

Finally, before choosing a business telephone system, take
into consideration, the current size of the company, its
future expansion plans, and also the different phone
systems available in the market and their costs. Compare
the capabilities and features of the telephone systems in
the market, its price, and quality of customer support,
before making the final call. It is also advisable to seek
professional advice in that regard. To know more about
telephone systems in vogue, search the World Wide Web.

----------------------------------------------------
Lee Smith writes about Telephone PBX Systems
http://www.networklondon.co.uk/communications/index.html