A PBX or Private Branch Exchange is a telephone system that manages communications within an office, office building, or even a small business office or organization that connects to the “outside” or public telephone network. When the telephone was born, the computer was still yet to be conceived. Thus telephone exchanges were purely mechanical. Each telephone number uses two wires (called a “cable pair”) to connect to other telephones via switches. In the very beginning, switches weren’t used much at all. Instead, operators manually inserted and removed cables in a large board which contains a large number of different hookups.

Eventually, automated switches mostly replaced the human “switchboard” or exchange, and with the popularity of the transistor and computers, integrated circuits (IC) replaced the mechanical switches. The IC was far more cost-effective, eliminating the need for constant human monitoring, and requiring very low maintenance and failure compared to switches.

A PBX system was the telephone company’s answer to providing a business with multiple telephone lines, while at the same time limiting the number of outgoing “cable pairs” to the public telephone exchange making office communications less expensive (than treating each office phone line as an individual public line) and much more efficient.

Today, cloud-based VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) systems have made traditional PBX systems obsolete. Now your office’s Internet and all of its telephone lines can operate on one simple broadband internet connection utilizing hosting, on-site, or cloud-based PBX systems. What’s more, control and changes to the system is at your fingertips and is easy to do right from your computer.

Furthermore, NETRIO PBX’s available features are almost endless and can include standard voicemail, call transfers, music on hold, caller ID, call center FAX, and many others. If you have any questions about NETRIO services contact us at any time.