Hybrid   Based System

Hybrid systems are a combination of standard (POTS) phone lines and a VoIP system.  It is a great place to start if this is your first experience with VoIP, as it does provide the best of both worlds.

With a Hybrid System, you will keep your phone lines from the phone company.  These lines will plug into your new VoIP server, at which point all of the features of VoIP will be available to you.  The server will manage inside and outside calls, and handle the POTS lines appropriately.

Some of the major advantages of a Hybrid System are:

• Seamless migration to SIP Trunk-based lines whenever you are ready
• You will not depend on your Internet connection for your phones to work
• Allows implementation of emergency failover should your VoIP system fail
• No hassle with changing or porting existing phone numbers
• You can still add SIP Trunks and use them in combination with your regular phone lines

Learn more about VoIP... Click Here!

SIP Trunk   Based System

If you are looking to rid of the phone company, a SIP Trunk-based system is the way to go.  You get your phone service through an Internet-based SIP provider (such as Broadvoice) and all of your telephone traffic goes through your Internet connection.  You will typically set up separate VLAN's (your new VoIP-in-a-Box system will support this) to separate and prioritize your voice and data traffic, so Internet browsing doesn't overtake your priority voice traffic.

Some of the advantages of a SIP Trunk-based system are:

• SIP Trunks with supporting bandwidth are often times up to 50% cheaper than the cost of business phone lines
• Flexibility.  SIP providers let you change line settings on-the-fly, usually online.  With some providers, your phone system can even control what your outbound Caller-ID says!
• Easy to relocate.  SIP lines don't change, no matter where your office is.  Your phone system just connects to them via the Internet
• Less Equipment.  You don't need to buy the hardware for your server to handle FXO (POTS) lines, and you don't need to hassle with the patch panels and punch blocks that the phone companies use to deliver your phone lines

Learn more about VoIP... Click Here!