TC Systems

IP telephone systems
Cloud telephone systems
Choosing the right TC system provider

Telecommunications (TC) systems are switching systems that connect several devices, such as phones, fax machines or answering machines, to each other and to the public telephone network. They are also known as telephone systems, private branch exchanges (PBX) or switchboards.

With TC systems, users can make internal calls between connected phones – or extensions – free of charge, or switch to the public telephone network for chargeable outbound calls. Depending on the total number of trunk lines available for external calls, several outbound calls are possible from different extensions at the same time. Since the connected devices share the available trunk lines, a telecommunications system allows organisations to use their paid-for phone lines more efficiently. Depending on the system and its configuration, incoming calls can be forwarded automatically to the appropriate extension using a direct dial number,or transferred manually via an operator console.

IP telephone systems

In line with the trend for digitalisation, like many other originally analogue systems, telecommunications systems have evolved into fully digital systems, so-called IP telephone systems. These systems use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology and provide both analogue connector ports and digital (IP) ports for a wide range of devices. Devices are connected using a cable or wirelessly via DECT or WiFi. With IP telephone systems, voice and data merge – along with their related applications, paving the way for new functionality.

Cloud telephone systems

Cloud telephone systems are modern IP telephony systems that are hosted in the cloud by a third-party provider. One example isCloudya, the cloud telephone system from NFON. The cloud approach means that businesses no longer have to install and maintain on-premises switching hardware: To use cloud telephony, all they need is an Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth. Theoretically, the maximum number of simultaneous phone calls is only limited by the bandwidth of the Internet connection. Users simply access and configure the cloud telephone system and its services from a web browser. One significant advantage of cloud systems is their capacity for flexible expansion. Connecting additional offices, users or extensions is usually a purely software-based process, with no need for implementing any additional hardware.

Cloud telephone systems also bring invaluable benefits for businesses with a distributed, remote workforce, for example, where a number of employees work from home. They allow users to access all telephony features from virtually anywhere via a smartphone app, their tablet or laptop. Each user is available under their extension number at any time and on any device. New users and extensions can be added quickly and easily. All of this allows for more flexible mobile working.

Choosing the right TC system provider

Organisations planning to switch to cloud telephony should consider the following criteria when selecting the right TC system provider:

Flexibility – a commercial model that enables seamless and rapid scaling
Speed – a real cloud solution can be implemented in a very short time
Bandwidth usage – choose a solution that needs limited bandwidth to avoid the company network becoming overloaded and to maintain the best call quality. If necessary, consider using a separate Internet connection for IP telephony. Nconnect Data is a solution from NFON that provides high-performance Internet access and supports Cloudya’s functionality.
Availability – does the provider operate in multiple countries and offer local phone numbers? How reliable is the international service.

IP telephone systems

Cloud telephone systems

Choosing the right TC system provider

Further information

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

DECT

Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

Internet Connection

Answering machine