Sprint Centrex Product Details

Overview | Product Details | Features | Applications

Product Details

Use this section to learn more about Centrex, how it works and its many benefits.

What is Centrex?
How Does Centrex Work?
How Will Centrex Benefit My Business?

What is Centrex?

Centrex (central office exchange) is a switching service that directs calls for business and residential customers through software and hardware located in a telecommunications provider's central office (CO). A part of the switching center equipment is reserved for each customer who subscribes to Centrex. This allows you to use Centrex capabilities without installing a separate system on your premises. In addition, each Centrex user has a separate telephone number and can easily connect to users outside their own system.

Centrex has four major components:

Switching center equipment: Hardware and software located at the CO
Local lines from the switching center: Centrex station lines that connect the customer's telephones to the CO
Simulated access lines: Lines that connect the CO to a public switched network (any switching system that provides circuit switching capability to many customers)
CPE: Principally telephones and secretarial consoles. You can purchase equipment from Sprint or, if you're eligible, lease it.

Features are the heart of Centrex. You can select the features you want and configure your system on a line-by-line basis to meet your business needs. As your office grows, you can easily add new features or lines - just call Sprint, and we'll make the service change.

Centrex Data Services

Traditionally considered a voice service, Centrex has recently expanded to include data services too. These services allow you to transmit data without modems and can support data and voice applications simultaneously. They offer much greater bandwidth than a traditional phone line, and can support a wide variety of data applications such as high-speed Internet access, interactive multimedia and remote LAN-LAN interconnection. (LANs are local area networks that link computers in a building or campus under a standard protocol.) Centrex data services may vary from location to location, depending on availability.

One of the fastest growing data services is Centrex Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Other emerging data services that are compatible with Centrex are network features, Wireless Centrex and Centrex Internet Protocol (IP).

How Does Centrex Work?

Switch-specific software housed in the central office provides the "brains" behind Centrex call processing and feature operations. Each station line is a direct, dedicated connection to the central office (CO) which means that blockage is less likely. As a result, direct inward dialing (DID) and direct outward dialing (DOD) are inherent capabilities of every Centrex station.

Centrex is also an extremely reliable system. The CO switch is protected by a secure location and redundant backup systems, so you don't have to worry about your system going down. Maintenance is also worry-free: Sprint technicians monitor the system 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are always available in case a problem should occur. Switches are upgraded by the manufacturer through periodic upgrades to the software, and there is no switching equipment housed on the customer's premises.

Sprint offers two types of Centrex service:

Standard/Basic or analog: Uses any standard touch-tone telephone. Features are obtained by punching two- or three-digit access codes into the customer's touch pad.
Meridian Business Set (MBS) or digital: Uses special feature telephones. Offers all the features of Standard/Basic service plus software lines. Features are activated by pressing a button on the customer's touch pad.

Centrex with PBX and Key Systems

If you have a PBX or Key system, you can add Centrex capability without replacing your existing system. They can purchase as many Centrex lines as needed and run them in conjunction with your PBX or Key system.

Running Centrex lines behind another telephone system offers three main benefits:

Features. With Centrex lines, you can add features as needed. For example, conferencing with Centrex uses only one line, leaving the others available to receive additional calls.
Backup. If the system crashes, the Sprint network provides backup for the Centrex lines.
Link multiple systems. Centrex can also be used to tie together various Key or PBX systems at multiple locations.

How Will Centrex Benefit My Business?

In today's constantly changing market, you need a communications solution you can trust to help your business grow. Sprint Centrex is such a solution. It offers you the full flexibility of up-to-date technology at an affordable cost. With Centrex, you can leave the day-to-day management of your network to Sprint and focus on your business. Listed below are a few of Centrex's many benefits.

Flexibility
Reliability
Affordability

Flexibility

Communication needs often vary from department to department, as well as from day to day. Businesses must be able to easily upgrade or expand their communications solution as business operations change. Centrex provides customers with one of the most flexible solutions on the market. Here's why:

It's expandable. Centrex grows hand in hand with your business. With one phone call you can add features, move phones or increase the number of access lines or business locations.
It's customizable. Centrex allows you to create a tailored package of services that match your specific business needs. You can select only the features you need, link multiple locations and add individual lines as necessary.
It's adaptable to new technologies. With Centrex, you can easily adapt the latest generation of features and network functionality to each location, employee or work group. You will always be the first in line to take advantage of emerging technologies.
It's seamless. Centrex makes a business appear seamless, even with multiple locations. Customers can connect with the right person on the first call, regardless of their location.

Reliability

Reliability is crucial. If your telephone system is down, your business suffers. You lose time, money, productivity and the good will of your customers. That's why Sprint technicians monitor the central office (CO) around the clock, minimizing service disruptions. Here are four reasons Sprint Centrex service is worry-free:

Backup systems. The Sprint CO is fully equipped with a backup to make sure that Centrex systems are virtually immune to downtime caused by power outages.
Preventive maintenance. Self-diagnostic tools monitor your Centrex system at all times, making sure that any problems are fixed before your service is affected.
24-hour, 7-day-a-week service support. Sprint's team of systems experts provides switch maintenance all day, every day.
Problem isolation and resolution. Each telephone has its own line to the Centrex system, so a problem with one phone will not affect the other phones connected to the system.

Affordability

Growing a business can be costly. Centrex lets you focus your investments on growing your business instead of owning and maintaining a telephone system. It's an affordable choice for the following five reasons:

Eliminate upfront capital investments. You don't have to buy expensive hardware or software when you sign up for Centrex service.
Reduce upfront service costs. There are no hidden costs. You pay one monthly fee and incur no significant upfront costs.
Equipment financing. You don't have to purchase expensive CPE. Telephones are all you need. And, in many cases, you can even use your existing standard analog phones or lease new phones if you're eligible.
Lease service on an as-needed basis. You only subscribe to what you need, when you need it.
Minimize overhead expenses. With the Centrex system at the central office (CO), you can eliminate the expense of floor space, climate control, electrical power, property taxes, insurance and a technical staff to support the system.