If you’re thinking it’s time to replace your aging phone system, you may be wondering where to start. There are many brands in the marketplace to choose from, but you also need to decide if a hosted versus on-premises phone system is the best option for your organization. Each option has its pros and cons as highlighted below:
On-Premises Phone System
Pros
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> You have ownership and control over the entire system. |
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> Unless the system is leased, monthly fees will be low to none. |
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> Standard analog or digital (PRI) phone lines supported by on-premises systems seldom have service disruptions. Monthly fees apply for each line. |
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> Calls over analog or digital phone lines are generally reliable and of good quality. |
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> Custom feature development may be possible. |
Cons
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> Added costs will be incurred for moves, adds and changes which will typically need to be performed by the system installer. |
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> Periodic software updates may be required and typically come with added cost. |
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> System will have a fixed capacity. If capacity needs go beyond what was originally anticipated, a new phone system may need to be purchased sooner than expected. |
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> The proper infrastructure needs to be in place to accommodate the phone system – space, power, HVAC, security. |
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> Failure of the phone system or an outage of standard analog or digital phone lines will result in a busy signal, or no answer for callers, until the situation is resolved. |
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> Must check that the company installing and supporting the system is certified by the vendor as being competent, to help ensure a smooth transition. |
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> If the brand has limited licensed installers in your local area, finding a new one if needed in future, could present a problem for ongoing support, upgrades etc. Hosted Phone SystemPros
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Having reviewed the pros and cons of a hosted versus on-premises phone system, one might ask whether it’s possible to combine the best of both hosted and on-premises phone systems to obtain an ideal solution. One Canadian company has done just that. Fibernetics’ NEWT Hybrid Cloud Phone System incorporates some equipment at the customer’s site, to manage functions such as local extension-to-extension calling, call recording and a customer self-serve configuration portal. Other functions such as call routing, auto attendant, voicemail/voicemail to email and conference bridging, are handled in the Fibernetics cloud. This unique architecture enables excellent quality of service (QoS), even where Internet bandwidth availability is fairly low.
Another key benefit of the NEWT system is that it is a single vendor solution. This means all aspects, from the local hardware, to the line your voice traffic travels on, to the cloud where calls are handled, are managed and controlled by Fibernetics. This eliminates finger-pointing between non-affiliated third-party vendors and allows for quick diagnosis and resolution of voice network issues should they arise. Parties typically involved in each scenario are:
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On-premises System |
Hosted System |
NEWT Hybrid System |
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> Manufacturer |
> Vendor |
> Fibernetics: manufacturer, phone company, Internet provider, Helpdesk support |
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> Vendor/Certified Installer/Support |
> Vendor Partner/Support |
> Certified Installer |
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> Telco – phone lines |
> Telco – SIP Trunks |
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> Internet Provider |
BSC Solutions Group is a Certified Partner/Installer of the NEWT Phone System. You can read more about the features and benefits of this system here, or give us a call for more information and a quote.
