What is Centrex

The word Centrex comes from the phrase Central Exchange. The Centrex company offer various phone facilities to business users and increases work productivity with smooth telecommunication. Telecommunications is one of the most vital aspects of running a business organisation. However, the phone system can vary depending on the size and number of the organisation's clients. Understanding the Centrex phone system will make the decision process easy and quick. In the case of larger companies establishing a private phone network is not a huge deal. Meanwhile, small business companies reach out to service providers for a central office telecom solution.

What is Centrex in Telecom

The Centrex can be defined as a central phone service tool directed by an operator. The centrex phone lines are similar to the regular phone lines apart from the added features. The features are not restricted to limited handsets but are spread over the entire enterprise. Before the arrival of the Centrex phone service, organisations used PBX or the Private Branch Exchange. The set-up and maintenance costs of the PBX were comparatively higher. With the coming of the Centrex services, the need for a private or individual phone service system vanished as per the service exchange definition.

This seems a more appealing and cost-effective solution to businesses and organisations. While the solutions provided may differ from one operator to another, here are some of the standard features of the Centrex lines.

Basic Features :

• The centrex software will allow you to indulge in conference calls.

• You can place calls on hold with the help of the central exchange.

• It also has the facility of the call queues.

• You can also transfer calls with the aid of personalised voicemails.

Centrex vs PBX

PBX is a private branch exchange facility and works through the company's phone network. It differs from the computer network and provides various services like call transfer, call queues, conference calls, etc. At the same time, the Centrex phone is an external phone system managed by the outside operator. The company's landline system is managed through the Internet. The functionalities are similar to the PBX with a different mode of operation. The centrex exchange service center host an IP PBX ( Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange ) and effectively manages the network lines between the centrex home and the LAN. The Centrex IP is the appropriate alternative to PBX and IP PBX. The features provided by the exchange services are similar to that of PBX.

How does Centrex Works

The Centrex functions are similar to the internal PBX or the IP PBX, with the only difference in the facility's location. The Centrex operates via the Centrex communications corp instead of the inward office of exchange or the ClienClient'sork. The operator links the phone lines provided to the organisation using a DSL router. A web interface with the help of customisation enables a centralised telecommunication system. The Centrex technologies include phone service and Internet and support cutting various infrastructural costs. Let us quickly take a look at the features and benefits of the Centrex solutions.

With the IP Centrex, many services are available, which are only available to larger organisations. The benefits include -

• Speed dial facilities
• Caller Id Solution
• An interactive voice response facility is also offered
• Direct-dial-in service
• Data tracking in context to calls
• Fixed-mobile convergence offer

These are some of the key benefits provided by centrex software solutions.

Pros of Centrex

Cost-effective

The centrex operating company will not require any significant investment initially. No equipment other than the phone connected to the IT networks is needed. It is as simple as getting a regular phone line installed. Since the terminal is located at the phone company central office, it is also space-saving.

No Internal Maintenance

Because the terminal is located on the operator's site, the Client does not require any internal maintenance or skilled staff. This automatically brings down the cost.

Flexibility

The Centrex offers flexibility both in terms of location and solution. It can quickly adapt itself and accommodate the Client in adding or removing lines, setting up new offices, etc. You can place the Centrex in a single building or multiple. A VPN links lines in various locations and allows users to work with flexibility.

United Communications

The exchange phone company helps you with a unified communication system at a meagre cost. It allows the users to go for quick screen sharing, video conferencing, etc., using a single interface. The team connectivity is highly increased with this and will enable clients to operate remotely. A user can work even while travelling and improve the organisation's productivity.

Cons of Centrex

Not all Costs are Covered

It no denies that a centrex facility is more economical than the PBX or PABX, but the clients must be equipped well to take advantage of the facilities. The company requires the established phone lines to get started with the centrex features.

Limited Features

The features provided are not as flexible as the internal PBX. Since the terminal is located externally, the features provided depending on the operator's capability. It is essential to check with the operator regarding the services available.

Quality Internet Facility

A superior internet connection is a must to use the centralised IP system. It is necessary for an interrupted service and smooth communication. The call transfer, listening to the voice mail, etc., requires a greater bandwidth.

Final Thoughts

Ask about what is exchange services on my phone and see if it needs to revamp. Suppose you have been looking for quick technologies to speed up the working of your organisation in terms of telecommunications. Get the centralised phone lines installed and increase the productivity of your work. The centrex has replaced the private branch exchange in several cases. The clients get a lot of control with installing the central system of operation without taking the entire load. The headache of regularly updating the private branch exchange is no more as the operator takes care of it. The advent of cloud computing has led to the usage of several cloud-based mobile services instead of the traditional wired system.