VoIP: Cloud PBX and IP PBX
Summary
​
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoiP) is a digital phone system that uses the internet to transmit the signals of a voice call, fax, text message and video call. So voice calls, video calls, faxes, text messages, etc. use data (Ethernet) wires as your computers use to connect to the internet. No more use of copper wires that were used for analog voice calls and faxes. The advantage of this VoIP is that the sound and video is so much better especially when High Definition (HD) sound and video is used. Think of your HD TV versus your old analog TV. The quality is so much better. Another advantage is that VoIP is about 50% cheaper than the old analog phone systems. In addition you can yourself control call forwarding, view call logs, voice messages from anywhere at anytime from any device since the VoIP system is in the cloud.
​
If you still have an old analog phone system, please call us asap to get a much better phone system, and save at least 50% on your phone bill.
​
If your company has at least 20 people, you should install a cloud PBX or IP PBX. Else use a hosted VoIP such as RingCentral, that we also sell.
If your company wants quite a complex call handling set up, you should install a cloud PBX or IP PBX. A complex call handling set up is for instance, when you want to switch from an auto attendant to a manual/secretary pickup.
​
In most cases we will recommend a Cloud PBX instead of an IP PBX.
​
An IP PBX has a call routing/switching box that sits on your premises, and routes the incoming calls to the right phone. This box is connected via Ethernet wire to your desktop IP phones. When you want to integrate an access system such as a door bell, door video cam, an intercom system with speakers, and back up analog Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) lines, then you should install an IP PBX. An IP PBX will be cheaper after about 2 years than a Cloud PBX. You can yourself control call forwarding, view call logs, voice messages from anywhere at anytime from any device since the VoIP system is web based and accessible via a web browser.
​
With a Cloud PBX, the box is at a cloud hosting provider such as eg. Amazon Web Services, Rackspace, etc, and is connected through your internet connection and your office router to your desktop IP phones. The same way your office computers are connected to the internet. The Cloud PBX has all the features of an IP PBX but, is maintained by Epygi Technologies. The advantage of the Cloud PBX is that the VoIP software is automatically updated, that viruses and hacker attacks are taking care off, that your Cloud PBX never gets outdated, that there is no maintenance, and that you can add as many phone extensions as you want without having to buy another IP PBX.
In comparison to a hosted VoIP such as RingCentral, a Cloud PBX is your private PBX in the cloud, and only you yourself controls the settings and features of your PBX system. With a hosted VoIP such as RingCentral, a large PBX is shared among many many customers. RingCentral may change calling features that you forgot to read about.
​
Internet Customer Solutions resells, configures and maintains the Cloud PBX and installs the IP PBX of Epygi Technologies. We are a certified partner, and have installed many Epygi IP PBXs. We analyze your call, fax, and conferencing requirements, your computer network and routers, and email ids so that a VoIP system is installed with the best practices, and that no call will get lost.
​
The Microsoft (MS) Phone System is the newcomer as part of MS Teams, which is part of MS Office 365 (E3 or E5 plan). While using MS Teams you can see the presence of the MS Teams members, audio call them, video call them and chat with them. However if you want to audio call somebody who doesn't use MS Teams, then you need to install the MS Phone System. This consists of a direct router (eg. an Audiocode Session Border Controller) that needs to be on your premise. You also need a SIP trunk (eg. the nexVortex SIP trunk). This MS Phone System could replace your whole phone system!! The big advantage of the MS Phone System is that it is part of MS Office 365. You have now one system (MS Office 365) to email, to store and share documents, weblinks, lists, calendars, team spaces and videos via MS Sharepoint Online, and to interact with other people via chat, audio call, video call, and a discussion forum using MS Teams that includes MS Phone System.
​
Epygi Cloud PBX
​
The video below gives you an overview of the Epygi Cloud PBX: EC QX Services
A typical small office set up for the Epygi Cloud PBX (EC QX) will look as follows:
In the picture on the left are three office extensions or desktop IP phones, and a remote extension (phone) that is outside the office.
The office extensions connect via an Ethernet wire to a switch, then to the office router which has an internet connection (cable or fiber) to your ISP. From your ISP there is a connection to the Epygi Cloud PBX (EC QX). From the Epygi CLoud PBX there is a connection to a SIP Trunk provider aka Internet Telephone Switch Provider (ITSP). You can choose an ITSP/SIP trunk provider from a list of ITSPs that host a SIP server. The ITSP talks to the PSTN (the old phone carrier such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint,, ) to handle both VoIP calls as well analog voice calls from landlines, or cell phone calls.
The optional failover is an IP PBX or E1 Gateway that is directly connected to the PSTN in case the internet fails. This way phone calls will still go through.
​
The ecMON is the web interface to the ecMON web application that shows you call logs. The ecQX is another web interface to the Cloud PBX that lets you see voice mails, faxes, and lets you set the calling features (call forwarding, attendants, simultaneous calling, etc). Both web applications are in the cloud.
​
More details are available here.​
​
Epygi's Softphone eQall for Epygi Cloud PBX and Epygi IP PBX
​
Epygi's softphone eQall is an IP phone mobile application that enables you to make and receive calls. Your eQall mobile application has its own extension in your Epygi Cloud PBX or Epygi IP PBX directory. It has all the features that a desk IP phone has. You may not need your desk IP phone any more. All phone calls will originate from your eQall softphone. All phone calls for you will be received by your eQall softphone on your smartphone. You will never miss a call, or you can always see the missed calls, and call them back. This eQall softphone has so many features that it outshines the competition. It has proven to be very reliable on the road with 4G connection. Now you can save thousands of dollars by just paying for an eQall license instead of purchasing IP desk phones and paying for installation and maintenance of desk IP phones.
Epygi Monthly Newsletter
​
Epygi Technologies issues a monthly newsletter that describes customer success stories, new product announcements, new product features, the practical use of same features, the latest online and in-class training schedule. An example is given below. You can click on the example to see all the past newsletters. Anybody can subscribe to this newsletter.
Epygi Support Portal
​
Epygi Technologies offers a support portal for customers. This is of course separate from the web interface for the Epygi IP PBX or Epygi Cloud PBX.
The Epygi support portal contains the following sections:
-
News
-
Discussion forum that is very active
-
Paid technical support plans where you can submit support cases
Below is a screen capture of this portal. You can click on it to see its home page.
All in One System: MS Office 365 including Email, Sharepoint Online, MS Teams and the MS Phone System
The Microsoft (MS) Phone System is the newcomer as part of MS Teams, which is part of MS Office 365 (E3 or E5 plan). While using MS Teams you can see the presence of the MS Teams members, audio call them, video call them and chat with them. However if you want to audio call somebody who doesn't use MS Teams, then you need to install the MS Phone System. This consists of a direct router (eg. an Audiocode Session Border Controller) that needs to be on your premise. You also need a SIP trunk (eg. the nexVortex SIP trunk). This MS Phone System could replace your whole phone system!! The big advantage of the MS Phone System is that it is part of MS Office 365. You have now one system (MS Office 365) to email, to store and share documents, weblinks, lists, calendars, team spaces and videos via MS Sharepoint Online, and to interact with other people via chat, audio call, video call, and a discussion forum using MS Teams that includes MS Phone System. All this at a very reasonable price.
​
The MS Phone System is still missing some call features such as call parking, Automatic Call Distribution (ACD), contact center features and a few other ones. Therefore you may want to keep your current Cloud PBX or IP PBX. Or get a Cloud PBX or IP PBX to replace your old analog PBX. The nexVortex SIP trunk can connect both your MS Phone System direct router (Session Border Controller) and your Cloud PBX or IP PBX to the internet.
For more details, click here.