How to Buy a Hosted PBX Phone System

A PBX, or Private Branch Exchange, is a private telephone network within an organization. With a hosted PBX, all equipment is located outside the company and calls are routed through phone lines so it's important to pick a host that will provide a high level of service.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Ask what kind of support the company provides. You should have immediate access to a qualified help desk technician, not just a receptionist. The vendor should have the ability to quickly resolve critical calls, such as service outages.

2. Determine what the process is for adding phone lines and making changes and whether there is a set time frame for handling issues.

3. Make sure the company provides all the features you need, including voicemail, auto-attendant, music on hold and the ability to see multiple lines on one phone. Find out if these features are part of the package or require extra charges.

4. Look at the telephones that you will be purchasing. Make sure you see the phones in action at a customer site or at the vendor's site. Evaluate the phones' features and ease of use. Find out whether they can be used with standard or wireless headsets.

5. Visit the vendor's site to get an idea of the company's size and environment. Look for a professional environment, good employee morale and an adequate inventory of spare phones.

6. Get quotes from several vendors and compare pricing. Determine whether the costs of additional features or system upgrades fit into your budget.

7. Find out how long the company has had their customers. Look for companies that have customers that are the same size as yours. Check references. Talk to customers who have the same features and options that you plan to purchase.