Hosted PBX Solutions. Learn how. Increasing efficiency with fewer upfront costs

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1 Hosted PBX Solutions Increasing efficiency with fewer upfront costs Learn how Hosted PBX systems are 2 scalable allowing your service to increase or decrease as needed. How Hosted PBX can reduce pressure on your IT team. A growing trend occurring among small and mid-size business owners is the practice of leveraging technology to reduce costs and secure improved communication tools. By shifting away from traditional telephone systems, they can gain access to synergies found only when timely and effective communications can occur between employees and their customers. Nearly half of VoIP customers are selecting a managed service like Hosted PBX Solutions. And the reason why is clear. This type of solution offers increased flexibility, rich features and large cost savings. 1 In fact, a 2011 report from the market research group Infonetics Research showed that VoIP services reached the 50 billion dollar mark by 2010 and is expected to double between 2012 and

2 Hosted PBX phone systems make it easier to add new technology when it becomes available. Hosted PBX systems provide a low TCO solution to businesses. Why Hosted PBX Solutions? An IP (Internet Protocol) PBX (Private Branch Exchange) solution is essentially a business telephone system designed to deliver voice over an internet connection. Companies using this service have two options: a premisebased or hosted solution. Today s hosted and premise based IP PBX systems are far less expensive to purchase, install and maintain than earlier versions. Benefits are proven and integration into existing business networks is far easier than before. This makes it simple to add new technology when it becomes available. Scalability Business needs change quickly. A Hosted PBX System provides the ability to dial up or down your service. For example, a company that receives high call volume during the holiday season may require additional flexibility this time of year. Adding more phone lines and users is possible with a Hosted PBX System, without the worry of increasing your capital expenditures or dealing with expensive equipment upgrades. Also, when call volumes decline again, it s possible to dial down your service to reduce costs. Low Ownership Cost One of the largest advantages of a Hosted PBX System is its capacity to utilize VoIP capabilities and eliminate multiple direct line connections. Yet, some companies resist switching worried about increased cost or equipment. Typically, these systems will save businesses money and are more efficient over the longterm due to lower call connection and completion costs.

3 A redundant office solution Mobility Another valuable benefit of Hosted PBX Systems is the ability to synchronize softphones with , call forwarding, instant messaging and video conferencing. A softphone allows the user to access corporate features, like they re working from the office. Exceptional mobility is provided to staff, stretched across multiple locations and is ideal for telecommuters. Businesses can also administer changes from far way. Remote users are set-up to appear like they re local to a business, which is one of the system s most powerful features. Softphone sales will reach 4.2 million units by The softphone market is growing rapidly, with a recent Frost & Sullivan report showing that softphone sales will reach 4.2 million units by 2014, compared to 416,000 units in Business Continuity A flood, earthquake or other natural disaster can knock out power to your office making it difficult to manage call volume. A Hosted PBX System solves this problem. The solution is a redundant, secure data center, that allows you to easily conduct business as usual from outside of your office.

4 Hosted PBX solutions enhance overall cloud security. Reduce IT Pressure A Hosted PBX Solution takes pressure off information technology and administrative staff, reduces long-term investments and increases productivity and mobility of employees. Design, training, management and installation of equipment are supplied by most PBX providers. Simple web-based administration makes phone management straightforward and reduces the volume of IT and administrative support hours required by a company. Also, incoming calls can easily be matched against contact management systems. Outgoing phone calls may be initiated from Outlook, which keeps all customer information centralized. The ability to integrate the system with a variety of systems, office documents, clickto-call systems and even full CRM systems is possible and easy to achieve with minimal cost or customization. The status of a user within the system can also be displayed to internal and even sometimes external callers. These displays may indicate information such as a user s location or type of device they re using. Fewer Security Concerns You might increase efficiency and save money with this solution but is it safe? Hosted PBX phone services enhance overall cloud security, while reducing the already significant load on IT personnel, including: Administrators can set web portal access levels on a per-user basis, which ensures only the appropriate staff has powerful high-level functions. International call capabilities are adjustable, allowing an administrator to stop, enable or disable calls on a per extension basis. They can also set spending limits, which prevent costly unauthorized calls. Remotely disable a phone using cloud PBX, if an employee leaves the company but doesn t return hardware. Individual servers are protected by industryleading encryption to further enhance security.

5 The Right Solution Transitioning from an older, traditional telephone system to a virtual VoIP phone system is shown to provide considerable savings over time. Hosted PBX Systems are typically quicker and cheaper to install than premise-based PBX systems. Fewer upgrades are required and maintenance is managed by the host provider. While it s true Hosted PBX Systems provide less flexibility in terms of customization, many companies find the performance of the overall system to strike the right balance between customization and keeping costs low. Companies requiring a significant volume of customization may select the premise-based PBX system. The upfront costs are higher. But for these companies, the ability to customize further is worth the cost. About CornerStone CornerStone delivers advanced communications solutions to organizations of all sizes, in all industries. Enjoy the benefits of our SkySphere product line of cloud voice and cloud computing services, and use our high-bandwidth Cable Access Transport (CAT) service to connect to the cloud. Our credentials include SAS 70 Type II and SSAE 16 SOC II certifications as well as a robust carrier-grade voice and data network. SkySphere, only from CornerStone, is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner; meets the stringent requirements to become an Intuit- Authorized Commercial hosting company; is a ZixCorp Diamond Partner; and works with technology platforms and providers such as Cisco, Citrix, Blackberry, Barracuda, Mozy and Sonian for best-in-class solutions. Let us help you assess how to best leverage hosted , hosted desktops, virtual private servers, and a full range of products and services from a single, trusted advisor. References 1. Hosted PBX Reseller Markets Seeing Rapid Growth. Regional Business News, February Infonetics Research: VoIP Services Market Growing Strong as Businesses Seek Flexibility, Easier Management. Regional Business News, April CloudTweaks. Five Reasons Why Hosted PBX Makes Good Business Sense. Retrieved 4/24/13 from Is a Hosted PBX solution right for your business?