WHAT IS A PBX?
PBX stands for Private Branch eXchange. It is like having your own phone company exchange, right in your home or office. Or in the cloud.
Most people understand the basics of how phone calls USED TO work. You would have 1 phone number, that would ring 1 line, and that line might ring 1 or more phones. Once answered, you can't do much other than talk and hang up. Very limited and cumbersome.
A PBX simplifies things, while letting you do more, such as coordinating multiple numbers, multiple lines, and specific phone extensions. You can create simple or complex paths for handling calls.
A PBX with Clone Line service is even better. You aren't limited to the old "1 line = 1 number" model. Now you can have 1 number, with up to 96 "cloned" rollover lines (depending on plan), and Unlimited Extensions, which can be anywhere in the world.
WHAT KIND OF FEATURES DOES A PBX HAVE?
Our cloud PBX system utilizes the latest technology and provides many advanced features, such as:
- Unlimited Extensions, each with its own private mailbox
- Automated Attendants (IVR menus)
- Call Recording (forced or on-demand)
- Ring Groups and Call Queues
- Customizable Music on Hold
- Remote Extensions to unify users at multiple locations
- Virtual/Mobile Extensions to utilize your existing cell phones
- Dial In/Dial Out, call into your system, then call out
- Time Conditions, change call path based on time or date
- Call Tags (Alert Info), label calls based on call path they take
- Caller ID Prefixing, modify caller ID based on Call Tag Info
- Custom Ring Tone, modify ring tone based on Call Tag Info
- Agent Announcement, play message to agent based on Call Tag Info
- Call Parking, park a call to be picked up on any other phone
- Call Transfer, transfer a live call to another extension
- Intercom, announced to another extension's speakerphone
- Group Intercom/Paging, announce to multiple speakerphones
- And dozens of other features, which are in constant development
HOW DOES A PBX WORK?
Older PBX systems worked by connecting multiple hard phone lines. Each line had a different number, and a specific line button on a phone. So for 4 lines, you had to have a 4 button phone, and so on.
Our PBX is smarter, especially when combined with our Clone Line technology.
You can have a single phone number, with 2 or more Clone Lines. All Clone Lines act as rollover lines, but with a single number. The PBX just takes the next call and puts it through the same call path.
Example, call #1 comes in and goes to an initial menu or announcement. They choose to speak with extension 100, so extension 100 rings. Call #2 comes in and goes to the menu or announcement. They may choose extension 100 also, or maybe they don't choose anything and they go to a Ring Group or Queue that rings multiple phones. If they do choose 100, then that extension can show a 2nd line button flashing and play a call waiting beep. If the caller chooses extension 101, then only the 1st line on 101 lights up... NOT the second line. So this allows even a simple 4 button phone to work with a PBX with 8, 12, 16 lines or more.
UNDERSTANDING PBX CALL PATHS
In the PBX, you can customize the call paths however you want. Inbound calls can simply ring to a single extension, 2 or more extensions, or go to a menu, time condition, etc. And you can change the call paths whenever and however you like.
But here's the thing that most people misunderstand. When you create an item, such as an IVR Menu, it isn't automatically added to the call path. You have to insert it at some point in the path.
Example, maybe you currently have a simple path where inbound calls ring to your main extension. You want to add a menu. So you create a menu. But calls continue to ring to the main extension. So you need to insert the menu for it to be in the call path. Go to the Inbound Route, which is the starting point of the call paths. Change the starting destination to your new menu. Now calls will go to the menu instead of a single extension.
The menu in the example above, can then route calls based on what menu option they choose. They can choose a particular person's extension, or a departmental ring group, a support queue, a menu in a different language, and so on. You can even have hidden menu items, such as calling in from a remote location, entering a PIN code, and then calling out using your office number.
WHY A CLOUD PBX?
A cloud PBX has many advantages over a "BOX" type system.
- Availability, the cloud system stays up, even if you lose power or internet at your location
- Remote Access, you can access the system from multiple locations to make changes
- Remote Extensions, you can add and unify extensions located anywhere in the world
- Easier Support, our agents can easily log into the system if you need help
- Automated Updates, the system updates weekly, adding new features and patches
- No built in obsolescence, underlying servers can be upgraded as needed
- No long term buy, pay as you go, cancel if you don't love it
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
You can view more features or order our Cloud PBX, aka NebulaPBX, at www.nebulapbx.com
If you already have our Cloud PBX, you can follow our online setup guide and tips and tricks, at link below.
Online Setup Guide and Tips and Tricks
If you get stuck or have specific questions, contact our Support Team.
