The four main types of business telephone systems (key telephone systems, private branch exchange telephone systems (PBX), KSU-less telephone systems and voice over internet protocol) all provide the same basic function (i.e. to make and receive telephone calls), but there are significant differences between them. If you need a telephone system for your business, then it is worthwhile learning about each of the systems available to ensure that you get the one that is best suited to your particular circumstances.

Private Branch Exchange Telephone Systems (PBX) – This is the system of choice for large businesses, as it is built to deal with fifty-plus extensions and is relatively easy to customize and upgrade. If your company has a lot of employees then this will be the most efficient telephone system for you to use. However, the fact that it is the best system also means that it is the most expensive one.

Key Telephone Systems – This is a good choice for small businesses who have between ten and fifty employees. However, even if you have less than ten employees, you should still consider this telephone system because it is cost-effective and easy to install / maintain. It is not difficult to expand this system (it can also be combined with a PBX system) if needs be too.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) – This system is both the cheapest and the easiest to set-up. Unfortunately, it also the most basic of the four types of telephone systems and many of the features found on other systems are not available on this system. For businesses with just a few employees, and especially businesses who need to keep costs down to an absolute minimum, it is the best option.

KSU-Less Telephone Systems – This telephone system is suitable for businesses with ten or fewer employees. It is cost-effective, easy to install and not difficult to move from office to another if you have to relocate. Another benefit is that it is highly customizable, so you can have it set-up in pretty much any way that you choose. The disadvantage of this system is that it if you need to upgrade it is quite expensive to do.

If you are not sure which of the above telephone systems would be best for your business then you should contact a company who specializes in these systems to ask for their advice. They will also be happy to demonstrate each of the systems to you, so you can get a hands on feel of how they work.