IP PBX

A NetPBX is an Internet- based version of a telephone system (PBX = Private Branch Exchange). In contrast to IP - Centrex, including usually all telephone services, the users of such online phone system can select the connected phone companies free.

Principle

Key service features (such as free calling of nodes connected to each other, call forwarding, brokering, etc. ) of a traditional PBX can be unwound on a rented, for example, in a data center server. Conventional plant engineering is no longer necessary in the home or office. Is made possible by this variant of a telephone system in combination with the Internet-based telephony ( Voice over IP). A SIP phone or regular phone in conjunction with a special adapter for the protocol SIP is connected via the Internet logically with the NetPBX. The switching functions take place on the server using a special software. For this purpose, there are numerous commercial vendors, but widespread is originally developed by Mark Spencer open source software Asterisk. In addition to ordinary dial functions can be with this under the GPL software and voice mail, conference calls and complex language menu controls implemented.

Benefits

• Users can call each other for free.
• Lower costs for hardware and software and power for the user.
• Service features are made transparent and unnoticed available.
• Complex call handling (eg, as in a call center ) can be mapped efficiently for a few users.
• The connected devices can be located on the world everywhere, their phones must only be connected through a reliable internet connection with the NetPBX server.

Disadvantages

• It needs to be rented in a data center a ( reliable ) server.
• If the NetPBX server or its Internet connection is not available, is paralyzed without redundancy all the local phone system. ( Single Point of Failure)
• For the connection of devices with analog interface (for example, fax ) a terminal adapter is required.