What is a phone system?
A phone system is a system, or service, used to control incoming and outgoing calls within an organization. Phone systems can be both physical and cloud-based and today help businesses of all sizes streamline communication and improve customer service.
Which phone system suits you best?
A phone system for business comes in several variants and the one that suits you best depends entirely on your needs. The most common options are cloud-based phone system, mobile switchboard, operator switchboard, operator-independent business switchboard and standalone mobile switchboard.
Different types of phone systems
Analog/physical switchboard
An analog switchboard, also called a physical switchboard, is a telephony system installed locally with its own hardware in the office. It used to be the standard for Swedish companies, but today it is rapidly being replaced by cloud-based solutions.
The hardware requires on-site service and maintenance, which makes an analog switchboard both more expensive and less flexible than a modern cloud PBX. As the copper network is being phased out, more and more companies are switching to cloud-based telephony.
Cloud-based phone system
A cloud switchboard is a so-called SaaS service, that is, Software as a Service. This means that instead of buying your phone system, you subscribe to a digital switchboard service, for a monthly fee.
Often, cloud switchboards are available in a basic version that you then build out with the features and number of users you need. The cloud switchboard is continuously updated by the provider, just like other software and apps you use, so you don't have to spend time on maintenance or updates yourself.
Mobile switchboard
A mobile phone system is a central and important part of your business telephony. In it, you manage all incoming calls to provide good and professional service to your customers no matter where you are.
A mobile phone system can most simply be described as the same thing as a cloud-based phone system, but the company primarily uses the mobile phone as the tool instead of the computer.
Operator switchboard
As a complement to mobile subscriptions from an operator, they often offer their mobile phone system. An operator's switchboard usually includes the most common features at a perfectly reasonable price. For more advanced and innovative functions, pure corporate switchboards from independent operators are usually best suited.
Operator-independent business switchboard
With an operator-independent business switchboard companies can usually choose between two and six different mobile operators to use in their mobile phone in combination with the switchboard. It is therefore two things, a standalone switchboard service combined with an operator such as Tele2, Telia, Telenor, Tre or lynes.
Standalone mobile switchboard
In Sweden, there are several independent providers offering more modern cloud-based telephony solutions. They are often characterized by clever and innovative functionality combined with ease of use.