Phone System Terminology

It may be difficult to understand the different options and components associated with choosing a digital phone system for your business if you are unfamiliar with the commonly-used terminology. Here is a list of terms that you will most likely come across during your phone system search:

• Cabinet – A telephone system’s cabinet is a box in which internal routing, external routing, and configurations take place. Key systems and PBX systems will both have cabinets. Cabinets are also referred to as a “central office” (CO), “key system unit” (KSU), “central unit”, or “base”.
• CTI (computer telephony integration) – This is an optional set of applications that will integrate your business’ telephone system with a computer. CTI includes features that may be appealing to large businesses, such as one-click dialing, video conferencing, and incoming call routing, as well as many other timesaving features.
• Extensions – Extensions allow multiple lines, fax machines, and modems to operate without the use of a dedicated phone line. With the use of extensions, an office only needs to have a single phone number.
• Hybrid – A phone system that combines the qualities of a key system and PBX system. Hybrid phone systems developed because the distinctions between key and PBX systems have gradually dissolved over the years.
• Key Systems – Also referred to as key telephone systems, this type of system is usually the choice of small businesses. Key systems can support an office of up to forty employees, and cost less than PBX systems while offering many of the same features.
• KSU-less Systems – These systems support businesses with up to ten employees, and are usually the cheapest. Because routing software is contained in the actual telephone, a cabinet is not needed with this type of system, which dramatically decreases the cost. KSU-less systems are generally used by businesses that are more concerned with cost than phone features.
• Lines – The telephone lines that come into your business. Lines may also be referred to by some telephone system vendors as “trunks”.
• PBX (Private Branch Exchange) – Suitable for businesses with at least forty employees, this type of system is extremely customizable and offers many features. PBX phone systems are usually costly, but are easy to upgrade, which can save you money in the future.
• Ports – The number of connections that a phone system can handle. Ports include the number of lines and extensions a phone system has. This term is most commonly used with PBX systems.
• VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) – This type of system requires that your office has a high-speed Internet connection because calls are sent and received over the Internet. VoIp phone systems work well for businesses who make a lot of long distance of international calls.

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