Skyetel is a leading provider of cloud-hosted PBX services and solutions, catering primarily to resellers. For those unfamiliar with the term, PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange. This is a private telephone network utilized within enterprises. Users within a PBX system share a specific number of external lines, enabling them to make phone calls outside the PBX environment. Most medium and large companies opt for a PBX system due to its cost-effectiveness compared to connecting an external line to every phone in the organization. Additionally, calling within a PBX is simplified, often requiring just a 3 or 4-digit number.
If you're new to VoIP PBX technology, Skyetel believes it's essential to familiarize yourself with the following terms:
Key VoIP Terminology
Asterisk
Asterisk is a free, open-source software that operates on Linux, Mac OS X, and various Unix variants. It supports computers powered by x86, PowerPC, and other processors, providing PBX capabilities for both VoIP and, with the right interconnection hardware, digital and analog telephone systems.
Auto Attendant
An auto attendant is a phone feature that automatically transfers calls to the correct destination-such as an extension, voicemail, or recorded message-without human intervention. It prompts callers to press buttons on their phone keypads or respond with voice commands like "yes" or "no."
Automatic Callback
This term can describe a PBX feature allowing employees to avoid long-distance charges when calling from outside the office. The employee makes a brief call to the PBX, which then calls them back using an economical VoIP plan. Additionally, automatic callback can refer to a feature where a phone attempts multiple times to reach an unavailable number, notifying the caller once a connection is made.
Call Barging
Call barging allows a third party to join an ongoing phone conversation, which can be useful in supervisory or training scenarios.
Calling Rules
Calling rules are policies set by the administrator that dictate how the PBX handles incoming and outgoing calls. Some systems permit user control over subsets of these rules for their own extensions, enhancing customization and flexibility.
Advanced PBX Features
DISA (Direct Inward System Access)
DISA is a service provided by PBX systems, enabling authorized individuals to dial into the PBX from external phones. This allows them to make calls through the PBX, leveraging its features and cost benefits.
Extension Lines
Extension lines allow a PBX to distribute the use of a single telephone company line among multiple phones within an organization. Each phone has its own number but shares the same line, facilitating internal communication without using external lines.
FreePBX
FreePBX is a standardized implementation of Asterisk, providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to manage the system. It offers a fully functional PBX, eliminating the extensive configuration typically required with Asterisk.
IAX (Inter-Asterisk Exchange)
IAX is a VoIP signaling protocol that manages the control and transmission of streaming media over IP networks. It facilitates connections between Asterisk servers and between servers and clients, ensuring efficient communication.
IP PBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange)
An IP PBX system uses Internet Protocol over Ethernet networks to offer the same functions as traditional PBX installations, often extending their capabilities with advanced features.
IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
IVR is part of an auto attendant system, providing voice prompts and information to callers. It takes action based on keypad inputs or spoken responses, streamlining the caller experience.
PBX (Private Branch Exchange)
A PBX is in-house equipment that connects telephones within an organization to each other and to the external telephone network maintained by the telephone company. It provides call routing, services such as call forwarding and voicemail, and reporting, while allowing multiple users to share trunk lines.
Provisioning
Provisioning encompasses all tasks necessary to provide a user or organization with telecommunications service. This process can be automated, requiring minimal human intervention.
Ring Group
A ring group is a set of extensions that the PBX rings in a specified order, as determined by the administrator's rules.
Understanding VoIP Protocols
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
SIP is a set of IP telephony signaling conventions commonly used for VoIP. It can also facilitate the electronic delivery of various multimedia types, enhancing communication versatility.
Trunk Lines
Trunk lines are high-bandwidth communication links that connect two switching systems, such as a telephone company central office and a PBX. A trunk line can carry multiple voice and data signals simultaneously, optimizing communication efficiency.
Trunking
Trunking is the process used by an IP PBX to merge data from multiple calls into a single set of packets, reducing transmission overhead and improving system performance.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
VoIP is a method for delivering telephone communications over computer networks. It uses transmission rules governing the Internet, allowing for efficient and cost-effective communication solutions.
By understanding these terms and concepts, you can better navigate the world of VoIP and cloud-hosted PBX systems, enhancing your communication capabilities.
