Connectivity is the latest trend in business communications.  Everyone wants/needs to be connected to their office 24/7 by all means possible.

Email, SMS, texting, voice mail are just some of the ways people stay connected.  Now, Samsung has another way, MOBEX, which stands for mobile extension in Samsung speak.

Now any telephone number can be made an extension in the OfficeServ 7000 series.  Typically this is a cell phone, but it does not have to be. 

Once programmed, calls to the PBX can be transferred directly to the MOBEX number as if it is connected directly to the phone system.  This is a standard feature in the OfficServ 7000 family and a great value add for customers.

Executive MOBEX, which is a one time license fee, allows cell phones to access telephone lines in the PBX to make calls.  This is useful for remote workers making long distance calls or for doctors that want to call patients from their cell phone without Caller ID showing the cell phone number.

Either way, MOBEX is an excellent addition to the connectivity arsenal.

For additional information check out the following link: MOBEX

There is a lot of buzz these days about cloud computing and virtual PBX systems for businesses.

Virtual or hosted telephone systems market themselves as a better alternative to traditional PBX systems located on the customer premises.  They tout advantages such as protection against obsolescence, software upgrades, connecting remote locations, and included maintenance and phone services.

But I would not count out the traditional PBX systems just yet.  If you have a home office or require less than 5 or 10 telephone sets or have employees in different locations, then hosted may be the way to go.  For a flat monthly fee per phone you can have all the features of a traditional PBX with none of the headaches.

However, as the number of telephone sets increases, the cost/benefit decision changes.  Remember, with a hosted system, in effect you are renting, not buying.  Traditional PBX systems, as function of the cost per telephone set, have continued to drop in price.  The cost of ownership five years out clearly favor purchase or lease of equipment over renting.

In the 10 to 30 phone range customers should look at the ROI of purchase versus hosted.  Over 30 phones, most businesses would benefit from owning rather than renting.  Just because new technology is available does not mean that it is right for every business.

Also, most new PBXs can support VoIP telephones at remote locations.  If a business has a main office and multiple small remote locations, they can be better served by stand alone VoIP phones at those remote locations.

The Internet has influenced all areas of personal and business life and it will continue to do so in the future.  Just make sure that the technology is used wisely for your application.

Installed a Samsung OS7200S digital PBX at Carriage House of New London, the premier Mercedes-Benz dealership in the area this week.  The system consists of digital multiline phones and analog cordless telephones.