Everything You Need to Know About PABX

Everything You Need to Know About PABX

Everything You Need to Know About PABX

Communication systems play a major part in the operations of most offices around the world. Regardless of the size of the company, a working internal communications system that allows workers to seamlessly connect without relying on external factors is usually one of the first things installed in new corporate headquarters and small business offices alike.

Back in the days before the internet, business communications was handled pretty much only by installing traditional landline phone systems at the office premises, with tens of meters of cables connecting the stationary phones in order to ensure smooth and quick connectivity. These systems were vulnerable to many external factors, though, such as power outages on the provider’s end and the hiking up of prices by telephone service providers.

Most business communications capabilities are made possible by implementing private branch exchange (or PBX) systems. Traditionally, it required a room of operators to manage the company’s employees’ calls and transfer them via analog methods. These people also had to handle all of the communications coming in from the outside and put them through to the right people.

All of that changed with the arrival of PABX – the Private Automatic Branch Exchange method. It has drastically reduced communication costs for businesses, as well as improved upon the systems’ interconnectivity and response times. After reading this article, you’ll know the main differences between PBX and PABX, and how you can implement these solutions in your own business.

What Is PABX (Private Automatic Branch Exchange)?

We’ve already established that PABX stands for Private Automatic Branch Exchange. But what does that terminology actually entail? What are some of its major features? As PBX technology improved and the operators moved away from manually transferring calls to being able to do so at the press of the button, these changes warranted the development of a new term describing phone systems in most offices.

PABX-enabled phones have entirely eradicated the need for operator rooms, as the same functions could have been carried out at the press of a button on the same phone that the outgoing call was coming from. PABX users can make free internal calls. Initially, these solutions were prohibitively expensive. Traditional PBX systems remained in use while improving upon the original method reliant on switchboard operators. With time, electronic switching for call forwarding or call transfer became the standard in most offices, even those without a fully automated PBX.

How Exactly Does a PABX System Work?

Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) was made possible by the arrival of the capability to electronically switch between calls without the need for manual operators. This advancement was the key to developing a telephone system that would completely do away with the need for hiring people to do the menial task of answering and transferring incoming calls.

Without getting too much into the technicalities, PABX systems, in their most basic version, make use of extension numbers, which are assigned to each individual phone in a given office. For example, if you’d like to make a call to one of your co-workers who’s in his office next door, the only thing you’d have to do was type in the extension number on your PABX-enabled phone, and the call would directly go through to the receiver.

Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) systems have fixed that by removing the middlemen (operators) while keeping the structure of PBX systems intact. Phone extension numbers remained, but the switchboard was replaced with buttons placed directly on the telephones themselves, allowing any employee to carry out internal phone calls without waiting in the line for what sometimes felt like an eternity. Modern PABX systems make use of IP-based phones, and companies providing these services often base their entire functionality around internet connection, removing the need for installing phone lines altogether.

How-Does-A-Pbx-Phone-System-Work

PABX: Most Important Features

In our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, the need for fast, reliable connectivity should be prioritized above anything else. This is especially important in business environments, where minutes (or even seconds) of hesitation or lengthy session initiation can end up costing thousands of dollars.

An increasing number of companies have been utilizing voice over IP (internet protocol) technology to achieve the best results possible. It may be difficult to make a decision regarding the right communication service for your business without understanding its main features.

Some of the main characteristics of a modern PABX system include:

  • Effortless call transferring
  • Constant connectivity independent from any phone service provider
  • Using VoIP for the best call quality possible
  • Adjustable to the needs of your business

Some advanced features of modern PABX system:

  • Auto Attendant
  • Call Recording
  • Conference Call
  • Voicemail
  • Call waiting

PABX vs. PBX: What’s the Difference?

Nowadays, the terms Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) are used almost interchangeably. This is because PABX has proven to be superior to the old-school PBX systems, and with the decreasing costs of high-speed internet connections, it simply makes more sense from a financial standpoint. Yet in terms of how they originated, there is actually a difference between them.

PBX

This is the “legacy” system that replaced POTS in the majority of offices in the second half of the twentieth century. It is based primarily on landline telephony and uses switchboard operators to connect calls within and into the private branch.

Pros

  • Much more efficient than a plain old telephone system.
  • Removed the need for installing as many phone lines.

Cons

  • Human operators are less efficient.
  • Long waiting times.
  • Lack of any additional features.
  • Completely reliant on landline telephony.

PABX

As technology progressed, businesses began looking for more advanced communications systems that would catch up with all of the innovation going on, not to mention the mobile revolution we’re still witnessing today. The first PABX systems allowed users to connect by using buttons on their telephones and dialing extension numbers. As the internet started taking over as the primary communication tool, VoIP PABX systems became the most popular solution, offering advanced features and benefits that were simply not possible in the past.

Pros

  • Removes the need for installing complicated landlines.
  • VoIP enables nearly instant connections.
  • One PABX system for all branches of one company, even internationally.
  • Softphones that can be installed on mobile devices and computers.
  • Extra efficiency-improving features.

Cons

  • Requires a good, stable internet connection to work, which may be a problem in certain regions.

Yeastar Solutions for Your Unified Communication Needs

Private automatic branch exchange (PABX) systems, just like any other product or service, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Not all of them will fit your business like a glove. Yeastar services are incredibly versatile, making our PABX offer one of the broadest ones in the industry. You can choose between an on-premises VoIP PABX system , granting you the ultimate and complete control over the unified communications at your office. On the other hand, if you prefer a more hassle-free approach, our cloud-hosted PBX system is the perfect solution for businesses of all sizes who want a reliable UC service without having to worry about equipment maintenance.

Regardless of the service that you end up choosing, selecting Yeastar as your unified communications provider will ensure a long-lasting, reliable way to improve and maintain seamless connectivity in your office.

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User Login

Instantaneously receive user login credentials via email once the extension has been deployed by the adminstrator.

Log in conveniently via any web browser for access to the user portal.

Integrations

Integrate various CRM software for better customer service and satisfaction.

Enable transcription of audio messages into text with integration of third-party transcription service.

Enable API for integration with various third-party integrations for advanced performance such as call center and hotel reception services.

System

Provision email SMTP and template settings for event notifications to be sent out.

Manage storage allocation and duration of various types of data being stored on the PBX.

Determine the types of event notifications to be sent out, and the parties receiving them.

IVR

Add various audio voice prompts to be played according to different call scenarios.

Add voice prompts on multiple levels for more effecient and precise inbound call routing.

Voicemail

Customize default voicemail settings for each user extension.

Add various voicemail messages for allocation to different call scenarios and users.

Provision specific rules to how voicemail messages are played over the PBX system for better caller experience.

Reports and CDR

All call log activities are stored, with the option of having audio conversations recorded by default or for specific extensions.

Use intuitive visual call reports, to check various call statistics over extensions, trunks, queues, ring groups, and more.

Call reports can be viewed and downloaded directly from the PBX, or scheduled to be sent via email to respective parties.

Security

Restrict a general group or specific IP addresses to prevent unauthorized access to your PBX.

Limit the number of otbound calls users are allowed to make within a time period to protect against toll fraud.

Restrict certain country codes for outbound calls either company-wide or on certain extensions.

User Login

Determine extension ranges for different functions.

Define use of different voice prompts depending on call scenarios or intended function.

Provision basic and advanced SIP settings to be used on the PBX.

Recordings

Record all calls made on specified trunks, including inbound and outbound calls.

Recordings

Record all calls made on specified extensions, conferences, or call queues.

Paging and Intercom

Create different types of paging and intercom broadcast groups for selected extensions.

Set a time schedule to automatically start your broadcast.

Maintenance

Check for and download firmware upgrades to ensure that your PBX is always up-to-date.

Perform back-ups to prevent data and settings from getting lost.

Perform troubleshooting on your own to debug.

Conference

Pre-set conference settings and dial-in passwords for security, and allow internal users to send conference invites to external parties.

Speed Dial

Create multiple speed dial numbers to respective external numbers frequently used for outgoing calls.

Speed dial is activated when the set prefix (default or customized) is dialed.

Ring Group

Create multiple ring groups and determine custom ring strategies and failover settings for each.

Call Queue

Create different call queues with specific ring strategies and failover settings.

Static agents permanently answer calls in queue, while dynamic agents can log in and out. Allocate different extensions to each group.

Determine what actions are to be allowed for Mangers or Agents to manage on the Queue Panel.

Call Control

Have calls received on specific SIP trunks routed to designated extensions or destinations within the PBX.

Set-up dial patterns so that outbound calls are routed to their intended destinations.

Determine how calls are routed and received at different times of a day.

Contacts

Store, retrieve, and share company contact details easily on your PBX.

Organize company contacts into dedicated phonebooks and determine accessibility rights to extension groups for each.

Bulk import a list of contacts instead of having to key details in individually.

Role and Client Permission

Pre-defined user roles within the PBX are conveniently available for allocation, or create your own set of permissions.

Restrict users from viewing specific extensions, departments, or extension groups with Extension Visibility.

Allow or resrict specific users from managing or viewing certain company contacts

Auto Provision

Pre-defined setting parameters specific to respective IP phone models are conveniently available for easy set-up.

IP Phones can be quickly provisioned to your Yeastar PBX with just the pre-defined template and device MAC address.

Trunks

Register multiple SIP trunks on a single PBX as needed.

Different types of trunks can be created, Caller ID can be customized.

Extensions

View, deploy, add, and remove user extensions within your PBX system.

Configure default call and user settings for individual extensions.

Customize allocation of user extensions to specific ring groups.

Portal Login Page

Receive your administrator log-in credentials and set-up guide via email.

Log-in on any web-browser to get started with PBX set-up.

Installation Wizard will guide you through basic configurations.

User Login

Access all company contacts made available to you by the administrator.

Create your own personal contacts list for easy reference and dialing.

Bulk import contact details for convenient data entry.

User Login

Access and manage user settings for softphone application and voicemail.

Manage call routing and presence status for your individual extension.

Retrieve or download your personal call logs and recordings.

User Login

Receive your log-in credentials and set-up guide via email, sent by your admin.

Log-in on any web-browser to get started with PBX set-up.

Configure contacts and personal settings from the web portal.

Auto Provision

Add, remove, or modify IP phone settings from your web interface.

Upgrade IP phone firmware conveniently from your PBX.

Upload various default setting parameters specific to respective IP phone models for greater convenience during set-up.

Contacts

Store, retrieve, and share company contact details easily on your PBX.

Have detailed contact information for your vendors and clients conveniently stored .

Bulk add a list of contacts instead of having to key details in individually.

PBX Monitor

Monitor the status extensions, whether they aren idle, in use, or unavailable.

Know whether your SIP Trunk running properly, or experiencing problems.

Monitor the number of call conferences currently running on your PBX, and their individual durations.

Maintenance

Check for and download firmware upgrades to ensure that your PBX is always up-to-date.

Perform back-ups to prevent data and settings from getting lost.

Perform troubleshooting on your own to debug.

Call Detailed Report

All call log activities are stored, with the option of having audio conversations recorded by default or for specific extensions.

Filter by date, time, or extension number to retrieve specific call logs or recordings

Playback call recordings directly from the PBX or download to store externally.

Event Center

Determine what events and logs are to be recorded and/or have notifications sent.

Specify particular notifications to be sent to respective authorized personnel.

User Permission

Set up vaious groups of users for allocation to certain sets of access rules.

Determine what features a certain group of extensions can or cannot access.

Determine if users can access, play-back, or download call logs and recordings from the pbx.

Security

Restrict a general group or specific IP addresses to prevent unauthorized access to your PBX.

Determine specific the range of SIP ports for connection between your PBX and endpoints.

Restrict country codes for outbound calls either company-wide or on certain extensions.

Voice Prompt

Upload and designate customised audio recordings at multiple levels of a call journey.

Upload recorded music to fill the silence that would be heard by callers on hold.

Upload customised voice prompts to create a professional call experience.

General

Customize general call preferences either company-wide or for individual extensions.

Set-up feature dial codes for convenient user navigation to specific call features.

Determine how voicemails are retrieved, and also upload custom voicemail recordings.

Call Features

Add multiple automated responses to be played at different phases of a call journey.

Designate specific extensions to ring concurrently based on an external caller's dial pattern.

Customize messages and waiting times to keep external callers engaged when put on hold.

Call Control

Have calls received on specific SIP trunks routed to designated extensions within the PBX.

Set-up dial patterns so that outbound calls are routed to their intended destinations.

Determine how calls are routed and received at different times of a day.

Trunks

Register multiple SIP trunks on a single PBX as needed.

Provision SIP trunk settings and dedicate them to particular extensions.

Bulk add DDIs on each SIP trunk, for allocation to an individual or groups of extensions.

Extensions

View, deploy, add, and remove user extensions within your PBX system.

Allocate and deploy specific extension numbers to respective users via email.

Set-up default ring and presence status settings for individual users.

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