Before you begin choosing an office phone system, you must understand the terminology used to describe some the systems, their components, and features. The technology for digital telephone systems is continually changing so it is important to understand what these words mean and which features are important to your business model. To help get you familiarized with the industry ‘tech talk’, we’ve put together a list of terms used by telephone systems dealers and vendors:
- Cabinet – Can be referred as the “central office” or “CO”, “KSU” or “key system unit”, “central unit” and even “base”. A telephone system’s cabinet is the main unit where internal routing, external routing, and configurations take place on PBX and key telephone systems.
- CTI – CTI, or computer telephony integration, is an optional set of applications that integrate your business’ telephone system with a computer. Features can include video conferencing, one-click dialing, incoming call routing, and a variety of other timesaving features that appeal to larger businesses.
- Extensions – Extensions are essentially unique identifiers used within a telephone system’s internal network. Internal communication, fax machines, and modems can all operate without a dedicated phone line with the use of extensions.
- Hybrid – “Hybrid” phone systems are the middle system between key systems and PBX telephone systems. The term “hybrid” refers to its ability to offer benefits and features of both types of these small business phone systems.
- Key Systems – Key Systems, also called key telephone systems, are the entry-level choice for small business phone systems. Each individual phone has a selection of buttons corresponding to the number of phone lines available. Offering support for up to forty employees, key telephone systems are generally cheaper than PBX phone systems and offer features suiting small businesses.
- KSU-less systems – KSU-less systems are usually for small businesses with fewer than ten employees where portability and price are more important than overall features and benefits. In contrast to other phone systems, there is no need for a “central office” with KSU-less telephone systems because the telephones have the necessary routing software installed.
- Lines –Sometimes phone system vendors refer to lines as “trunks”, lines refer to the telephone lines coming into your business.
- PBX – PBX phone systems, also known as Private Branch Exchange, are customizable phone systems for businesses with forty or more employees. Similar to key systems, but generally PBX systems offer more features, easier upgrades, and extensive customization opportunities, thus justifying a higher expense when compared to other systems.
- Ports – The term port refers to the number of connections a certain phone system can handle, specifically when referring to PBX phone systems. The number of ports that a phone system has includes both the total number of incoming lines and extensions available.
- VOIP – VOIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a type of internet phone system. Instead of using landlines, or regular telephone lines, to transmit conversations, VOIP phone systems rely on your internet connection to send and receive telephone calls. Oftentimes, this system requires a router to translate the internet signal into a useable signal for traditional business telephones. VOIP is considered an alternative to key and KSU-less options for small office phone systems.