Cloud Based PABX

[Beginner111]

Please can someone advise me which is the best cloud based service provider? All the ones I'm getting quotes on want a rental fee per extension user whether I need the features or not......HELP!!!

 

[paulcolmer]

One good resource is www.whichvoip.co.za to compare providers but it is difficult to advise without knowing your requirement and size of system , last mile connectivity ect .
If you furnish this information i will gladly assist you .

 

[Beginner111]

I have ADSL 4meg dedicated for phone lines. I need 8 users with just answer & transfer facility and one reception and manager with features. So I am fine with one or two sip accounts....or a one number service. So if I use a POE switch I can connect all the IP phones. I want my extension range 3 digits. I heard of 3CX and Mypbx, etc. But a full clouded solution that you can host your PBX functionality even if you bound to utilize their minutes but avoid a monthly rental per extension user.

 

[paulcolmer]

Ok , 3cx works but my problem with it is that is runs on Windows OS , im far more worried about the Windows OS than the great performance of the 3cx , if you go that route it will need a dedicated server , DON'T even think you can run it in the background on a user PC ! As for MyPBX , its a Yearstar product , entry level , cheap , Asterisk based unit . Many people ok with this .
With regards to hosing , i will always push this for the micro SME , up to around 25 users , you get enterprise PBX functionality available to small users , never have to upgrade , limitless expansion and only hardware on site is a bunch of IP phones and a POE switch !

To me its an easy call , small users should go hosted !

 

[Wasabee!]

One good resource is www.whichvoip.co.za to compare providers but it is difficult to advise without knowing your requirement and size of system , last mile connectivity ect .
If you furnish this information i will gladly assist you .

I know Vox Telecom have SIP accounts for R25 a month among others, so they also do cater for home/SOHO/SME users. I still have to get a SIP phone for home to test their SIP account (no PABX just a lone phone).

 

[Beginner111]

I Have looked at Vox and IS, ECN etc, but they all have the same hosted solution.

SME's with 10 users:

Current: small PABX with 10 users - no cost (minimum maintenance)
2x Telkom lines @ R 360.00
Pay for calls only.

Hosted: Outright purchase of VOIP phones - R 6300.00 excl.
Outright purchase of QOS router - R +/- R 1000.00
POE switch or power supply for each phone - R 700 - R2500

Rental: Additional ADSL line - R 293.00 excl.
Data on that line - R100.00 excl.
Rental per phone for PBX functionality - R 500 - R 700.00

So if you look at a 10 extension user company now has to fork out the outright costs: +/- R10 000
Then the rental is now: +/- R 1000.00 excl. p/m. as opposed to paying R 360.00 p/m with Telkom.
Surely the rental out ways the savings on the cheaper call rates?

So how is hosted supposed to be more feasible for SME's?

 

[Clarotech]

From a providers perspective the hardware and infrastructure cost have to be covered somehow. Which is why there is a monthly cost. Consider the situation if you had to buy your own PBX, you'd have to lay out the capital costs yourself. With a hosted PBX (in our case at least) there should be built-in redundancy so you don't have to suffer from hardware failures. All you have to take care of is your connectivity redundancy (we can even assist with that).

Drop me a PM if you like and I can have someone call you regarding our hosted solutions or even a small PBX if you don't want to host.

 

[Beginner111]

I guess if these huge companies charges a minimum service fee for support and make money on the minutes would make more sense.
But charging a rental per extension leaves you with almost a onsite PABX costs and you looking to save money with hosted....

 

[Clarotech]

I guess if these huge companies charges a minimum service fee for support and make money on the minutes would make more sense.
But charging a rental per extension leaves you with almost a onsite PABX costs and you looking to save money with hosted....

There are pros and cons to both solutions, but we are seeing many companies making the move to hosted and happily pay the monthly fee so they don't have to worry about: Large capital outlay, Hardware failure, Power outages (now only needs a smaller UPS to keep connectivity going). Plus they get the benefit of remaining on a current platform (no need to throw out your old PBX after X years of usage), scales with you as your business grows. You can also do things like redirect your inbound number somewhere else when your connectivity goes down.

 

[Beginner111]

If the client provides his own hardware and redundancy? Will you nit recover your costs by the minutes he uses?

 

[Clarotech]

If the client provides his own hardware and redundancy? Will you nit recover your costs by the minutes he uses?

Now you're talking about a different solution. If you are providing a PBX and the handsets, then you're taking care of the PBX features so all you need is a SIP trunk.

 

[Bimz]

On-Site or Hosted, we can make it affordable for you. Drop me a PM with your contact details and someone will contact you today.