What's the difference between a Virtual PBX system and Business VoIP system?

A Business VoIP system combines a Virtual PBX system with VoIP lines. In order to determine which option is best for you, you should understand how each phone system works and how you would apply each to your particular business situation.

Virtual PBX:
This system is inexpensive (starting at around $10 per month) and is a great alternative to purchasing a traditional phone system, especially for companies that operate primarily outside of the office. A virtual pbx eliminates the need for the phone box by hosting that functionality off-site. When you subscribe to a virtual pbx service, your service provider will provide you with an auto attendant, voice mail, multiple extensions, etc. Through your online interface, you will designate existing phone lines (including home phone, cell phones, etc.) to correspond with your extensions. For example, if you designate extension 2 for sales, and you want sales calls to be routed to a particular salesperson, you can designate your sales person's cell phone number as the destination line for extension 2. However, because Virtual PBX forces you to assign specific phone numbers to be routed to specific extensions, interoffice calling (which allows you to forward a call you received) becomes difficult to do. Read on to find out about interoffice calling functionality via Business VoIP.

Business VoIP:
Business VoIP System is a low cost alternative to a traditional phone system an an excellent solution for companies that work in a traditional office environment. Business VoIP integrates a Virtual PBX with VoIP lines. Because VoIP lines operate via the internet, they seamlessly communicate with the Virtual PBX. This communication makes interoffice calling easy. With Business VoIP, you have all the functionality of a Virtual PBX, which makes it easy to integrate off-site, as well as on-site, personnel into the phone system. Business VoIP also gives you all the functionality of traditional phone system without the hassle of purchasing or updating expensive equipment. If you purchase a traditional phone system, the phones are not pre-configured, which means most people have to hire a service technician to install the phones, which can cost as much as $300 per phone plus licenses for voicemail and other features. On the other hand, most Business VoIP providers use one of a handful of standard IP phones manufactured by companies like Linksys. If you purchase your phones from your service provider, they will be delivered to you configured and ready to go. All you have to do is plug your phone into an internet connection and start calling. Also, most service providers subsidize the cost of the phones, which reduces the cost to between $60 and $100 per phone. The monthly service fee for a Business VoIP system is similar to a per- line fee for VoIP lines (about $25 for an unlimited usage line).