What Are Different Types of Phone System?

Phone system is an important tool for any business. It allows you to communicate with your clients in a quick and effective manner.

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Basic Telephone System

In this type of system, calls are made over underground copper wires that are hardwired from business phone system and homes to switching centers where calls are connected. The system uses a network of local offices called exchanges, which are then linked together to create a national or international circuit.

These systems use a system of switches to control connections between telephone sets and between trunks. Signals are transmitted on the vertical side of the MDF and received on the horizontal side by specialized carrier equipment, which converts analog signals into digital form and transmits them to other central offices or subscriber telephone sets.

During a call, each end office monitors loop current to determine whether the other party hangs up or answers the phone. The system then sends a signal to the other end office or interrupts the dial tone to indicate that the connection should be terminated. In touch-tone environments, the same principle applies, but tones are used instead of inband signaling to convey messages.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

VoIP phone systems use your network’s Internet connection to transmit voice signals. Unlike traditional landline telephony, which requires copper wires to transport phone signals, VoIP is completely digital and can run over any Internet-enabled device. This includes your desktop computers, laptops, tablets (using a vendor’s software or app) and even regular smart phones that are compatible with your business VoIP system.

The calls are transmitted over the Internet using a special codec called real-time transport protocol (RTP). RTP compresses audio data into small packets and then sends them in real time to your local circuit switch, which connects your call to your colleague’s Internet-enabled device.

Compared to traditional landline telephony, a VoIP solution can cost significantly less. It eliminates hardware expenses, lowers telecom costs and can be a great way to boost your team’s productivity by eliminating repetitive tasks for employees, such as answering calls or filling out forms. It also allows you to add or remove lines at any time, making it a very flexible choice for growing businesses.

Analog Telephone System

Analog phone systems are traditional landlines installed by the local telephone company. Also known as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), these lines send sound signals over copper wires connected to a series of physical switches. Businesses relying on an analog system typically configure an on-premises Private Branch Exchange (PBX) to create an internal phone network.

In North America, the number of ringers you can connect to your telephone line depends on its Ringer Equivalence Number (REN). Each ringer requires an alternating current in order to oscillate. If you exceed this limit, the ringers will stop working or in some cases can damage your equipment.

A standard POTS phone line has a DC voltage measured at around 48 volts when the handset is on-hook. When a phone is off-hook, the voltage drops to 3 to 9 volts. The signal path across the pair of wires is controlled by the dial pads, which are equipped with electronic circuitry that produces key tones that initiate the dialling process at the telephone switching stations.

Digital Telephone System

Digital phone systems run over Internet connections to offer features such as music on hold, VoIP integration and API integration. These are used by companies that are looking for better call management features and insights into the data collected during calls.

The analog telephone system uses copper cables to carry electrical signals. When you dial, the telephone's "receiver" (which is actually a transmitter) produces in-band signals that tell the central office where to route your call. The signal is then relayed to other switching offices, which may connect it to a local destination or to a remote one over long-distance connections.

A PBX phone system is more advanced than an analog line and works over IP technology. It allows for multiple extensions and direct lines, unified voice and fax messaging, keypad entry recognition and paging functionality. These are also designed to support a specified number of users. It's important to consider your business needs now and in the future when choosing a telecommunications solution.