3CX Phone System is a software-based IP PBX for Windows which replaces traditional PBX hardware phones.
It is based on the SIP standard and supports standard SIP software / hardware phones.
It allows calls to be made via a VOIP service provider or via the regular PSTN. Easy to install and configure, it includes a web-based configuration interface, voice mail, auto attendant, call hunting and other features.
Both commercial and a free edition are available.
So what are the Benefits for the phone user?
A big feature is mobility. With a VOIP PBX, an extension is no longer tied to a desk, but users can answer their extension from anywhere, be it in the office, at home or on the road.
VOIP makes tele-working much easier.
A VOIP phone system will increase the productivity of a user - They can launch calls directly from Microsoft Outlook, and integrate call logging seamlessly with CRM apps or Microsoft Outlook.
They can use advanced phone features such as call conferencing and call forwarding because its easier to use the use these features from a Windows client rather then from a cryptic phone interface.
They can eliminate telephone tag because of the inbuilt presence feature which allows them to see whether their colleagues are available or not.
All this will allow for much more efficient use of the phone. Research was done by Sage Research which put time savings of VoIP phone systems to several hours per week per employee.
