(Private Branch eXchange) An inhouse telephone switching system that interconnects telephone extensions to each other as well as to the outside telephone network (PSTN). A PBX enables a single-line telephone set to gain access to one of a group of pooled (shared) trunks by dialing an 8 or 9 prefix. PBXs also include functions such as least cost routing for outside calls, call forwarding, conference calling and call accounting. Modern PBXs use all-digital methods for switching, but may support both analog and digital telephones and telephone lines. See IP PBX and WPBX.
An Early PBX
This PBX began operation in Bangor, Maine in 1883. (Image courtesy of AT&T.)
A Field Switchboard
This portable commutator was a one-wire telegraphic switchboard for military field service in 1914. Made by Northern Electric (now Nortel Networks), it was one of the first communications products built for the battlefields of World War I. (Image courtesy of Nortel Networks.)
An Early PBX
This PBX began operation in Bangor, Maine in 1883. (Image courtesy of AT&T.)
A Field Switchboard
This portable commutator was a one-wire telegraphic switchboard for military field service in 1914. Made by Northern Electric (now Nortel Networks), it was one of the first communications products built for the battlefields of World War I. (Image courtesy of Nortel Networks.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- PBX Call Tarifficator Pro 2.3 (Windows)
- PBX Call Tarifficator Pro is a call accounting and billing system, which helps you to manage all telephone traffic to and from your office switching system. It can log information for all local, long distance, international and incoming calls, calculate call costs, generate, print and export detailed cost reports and...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- X-Lite 4.0 v3 (Mac)
- A FREE premium SIP softphone with many PBX-like features. Open standards-based design allows for maximum network interoperation and integration. VoIP networks are expanding at a blistering pace, X-Lite is ready. X-Lite Features:Touch-tones [DTMF]3 LinesMultiple ProxiesLine HoldInbound Call 'Ignore'Inbound Call 'Go to Voicemail'Call Forwarding URI/URLVoicemail URLDial/ Redial/HangupDynamic CODEC SelectionCaller ID [SIP...
- Software downloads 2009-10-19
- Lawmakers to FCC: Time for a closer look at Google Voice
- Nothing alleged about it[i]the alleged rejection by Apple of the Google Voice app for the iPhone.[/i]Apple did reject the application, of this there is no doubt. Only after it was made public did Apple backpeddle and say that they are still reviewing it. The fact remains that Google submitted it...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-09
- Axon 2.10 (Windows)
- Axon is a free virtual PBX designed to manage calls in a business or call center via an intuitive web based console. The software works as a fully featured telephone switch connecting to phone lines and extensions using state-of-the-art VoIP technology. Offering all the normal features of a traditional PBX...
- Software downloads 2009-10-08
- Advanced PBX Data Logger 2.5.0 build 1006 (Windows)
- You may be an experienced hardware or network engineer, or an application designer and looking for a handy utility for extending your office, hotel or enterprise application. Whatever the case may be, look no further than our Advanced PBX Data Logger, for it will meet all of your technical needs.Advanced...
- Software downloads 2009-10-06
- A Different Kind of Phone Service
- Ari Rabban and I go way back - like five minutes. The president of Phone.com (wouldn't you like that domain name) has agreed to meet me at the Short Hills Hilton to talk about his newest venture. Rabban is a long time hand in the VoIP space having worked at...
- Blog posts 2009-10-05
- Brekeke PBX 2.3.8.2 (Windows)
- An award-winning product, Brekeke PBX is a SIP-based IP-PBX system for call centers, enterprises and service providers. Brekeke PBX solutions are cost-effective and provide flexibility to meet each telephony system's requirements. Brekeke PBX comes in two editions: Basic Edition with traditional telephony features and Pro Edition which includes a full...
- Software downloads 2009-10-04
- The best VoIP solution is ...
- What about hosted?Wondering if you guys would be willing to discuss the most obvious omission... hosted. It's like choosing which car to buy when its cheaper to take a limo.RE: The best VoIP solution is ...Your article was only comprehensive if you consider just the IP-PBX and desktop telephone;...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-22
- ShoreTel gives Skype's enterprise plans a lift
- ShoreTel, a big enterprise telephony player, has just given Skype's business plans a boost. ShoreTel said Wednesday (statement, Skype blog, Techmeme) that it is interoperable with the beta version of Skype for SIP, which launched in March. SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol, which is a standard...
- Blog posts 2009-09-09
- What's Missing from Shoretel's Skype-for-SIP Deal
- Skype just announced that Shoretel became the first vendor to achieve Skype-for-SIP interoperability. The move will allow Skype clients to function as end nodes on a Shoretel PBX. While significant, the deal misses out on some key capabilities much desired by Shoretel customers. Skype-for-SIP was the SIP...
- Blog posts 2009-09-09
- Will new Skype owners deal differently with open source?
- Don?t forget Skype for SIP ;)Skype for SIP also offers interoperability with other communications systems - there's more about how it works on our website:http://www.skype.com/go/sipRE: Will new Skype owners deal differently with open source?An equally important question is, will Skype deal differently with their users? Will they stop treating...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-02
- SipToSis 20090902 (Windows)
- SipToSis is Java software that allows you to make and receive Skype calls from your SIP ATA, softphone, IP phone or SIP PBX. You can also make and receive SIP calls from Skype. It let's you integrate Skype into your SIP VOIP phone system.
- Software downloads 2009-09-02
- LoudHush 1.3.21 (Mac)
- LoudHush is a softphone application for Mac OS X. It functions as an IAX client for the Asterisk PBX. With LoudHush you can initiate and answer, hold and transfer voice calls using your computer.
- Software downloads 2009-09-01
- 3CXPhone 4.0.8913 (Windows)
- Free VOIP / SIP phone softphone for Windows. Works with popular VOIP providers and SIP PBX's (including 3CX Phone System). The interface is easy to use and similar to that of popular Smartphones. 3CXPhone is compact and easy to install across a network. Features include Call Transfer, Call Recording, Hold,...
- Software downloads 2009-08-28
- VoIP Plug-in for Microsoft Fax Free Edition (Windows)
- Are you using Microsoft Windows? Do you have VoIP? Send and receive faxes with free SIP T.38 Plug-in. This free plug-in enables Microsoft Fax and Windows Fax & Scan, which are built right into business versions of Windows, to send and receive faxes via SIP T.38 using your current VoIP...
- Software downloads 2009-08-26
- VaxTele SIP Server SDK 2.0 (Windows)
- VaxTele SIP Server SDK Development Kit is a new and flexible approach to develop SIP based VoIP servers, IP-PBX, SIP gateways, SIP PBX. It is really easy to develop IP-Telephony, PC to PC and PC to Phone services by using VaxTele SIP Server SDK. VaxTele SIP Server SDK includes COM...
- Software downloads 2009-08-20
- IVM Telephone Answering Attendant 5.02 (Windows)
- IVM is a telephone answering machine, voice mail, call attendant, and interactive voice response IVR program for Windows. It connects to the phone using a professional telephony board or directly to a VoIP service. This software is an effective voice mail, call attendant, info-line, audio text or autodial solution for...
- Software downloads 2009-08-19
- 24U Phone Companion 1.0.2 (Mac)
- 24U Phone Companion ties FileMaker Pro to your PBX to give your database solution a full control over your phone. *Main features:* * Get a client on phone with a click * Answer a client's call with a click * Find calling client's info instantly * Log incoming,...
- Software downloads 2009-08-14
- Payworks Uses Microsoft Platform and Open
- Payworks Payroll Services provides online payroll and human resource outsourcing solutions to midsized organizations. The growing firm was coping with system downtime and rising maintenance expenses for its legacy PBX-based platform and needed to reduce communication costs for its 100-member call centre, which receives up to 400 calls per day....
- Case studies 2009-08-10
- Taridium Displaces Legacy Telephony Solution at TT Electronics
- TT Electronics integrated manufacturing services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TT electronics plc, a British owned global electronics group, with 23 main manufacturing sites worldwide, 7600 employees and revenue of £545m (US$1 billion) in 2007. In 1997 TT Electronics implemented a Toshiba phone system. By 2008 the phone system had...
- Case studies 2009-07-23
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