Overview

In today's demanding business world, you expect your company's phone system to meet all of your voice, data, and video needs. The private branch exchange (PBX) is such a system. It offers many basic and sophisticated voice features, as well as the bandwidth needed to run data and video applications.

What Is a PBX?

A PBX is a system or platform that routes voice, data, and video transmissions through equipment located on the customer's premises instead of through a central office. It's like a small telephone network that is dedicated to serving the people connected to it.

How Do PBXs Benefit Businesses?

With a PBX system, you can choose from a wide variety of features to create an extremely reliable system that meets your specific business needs. If you want to upgrade, it's easy — the Nortel Meridian 1 PBXs available through Sprint are compatible with existing technologies such as integrated services digital network (ISDN), Internet Protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and local area networks (LANs). And with a PBX system, all internal calls are free.

What Kinds of Applications Do PBXs Support?

PBXs can support a wide range of voice, video, and data applications that help your business increase productivity, ensure customer service and maximize the potential of your networks. Some examples are:

• Customer contact centers
• Integrated messaging
• Interactive voice response (IVR)
• Telecommuting