Hosted PBX for Business,
Build the Call Flow Before Buying Phones
What is a hosted PBX, and what does an office need to get started?
VoIP Services Now is the business phone service run by SRS Networks, a Salinas, California company operating since 1996. A hosted PBX provides business call handling without maintaining a PBX appliance at your office. Plan users, greetings, business hours, queues and voicemail, then check devices and the local network. Our service starts at $11.99 per user per month with a 1-year commitment, plus taxes and fees; optional phones and onsite installation are separate.
Move the Call Handling, Not Every Piece of Equipment
An on-premises PBX keeps routing logic on equipment your business maintains. Hosted service moves that logic to a provider platform. The devices at the desk can still be physical phones, while staff away from the office can use mobile or computer apps.
Write down what your current system cannot do before replacing it. If the PBX still meets your requirements, a carrier change through SIP trunking may be worth evaluating. If you want to stop maintaining the appliance, compare the hosted features and the cost of the transition.
Describe an Ordinary Call and Its Exceptions
Who answers the main number, and what should happen if they are busy? Specify reception, ring groups, queues, closed hours and voicemail destinations. Distinguish a desired behavior from a feature actually included in the proposed plan.
Basic includes an auto attendant and mobile and desktop apps. Outbound business texting needs the appropriate plan and carrier registration. Recording and integrations require the relevant tier. Confirm the configuration, any administration requirements and change process in the quote.
Your Network Remains Part of the Phone System
Hosted removes the local PBX appliance, not the need for working internet, power and network equipment. List switch ports, phone power, cabling and remote-user headsets. Existing phone models must be checked for compatibility rather than assumed reusable.
For an outage plan, identify the destination and the conditions that should trigger alternate routing. Agree and test what is supported. Mobile access or hosted routing does not guarantee an office outage will be invisible, and automatic failover is not assumed.
Separate the Service from the Work at Your Office
The per-user price does not include installation. Ask for service by plan and term, optional rental or quoted devices, any network work, training, taxes and other applicable charges. A ready office and a building needing new cabling should not have an identical installation scope.
Monthly with a 1-year commitment is different from month-to-month. Phone rental is available with a 1-year commitment and equipment is returned on cancellation. Review current pricing and cancellation terms alongside the proposed setup.
Hosted Versus an On-Premises PBX
| Decision | Hosted PBX | On-premises PBX |
|---|---|---|
| Routing equipment | Provider platform | Local appliance |
| Devices | Apps or compatible desk phones | Depends on existing system |
| Cost shape | User service, devices and setup | Carrier, maintenance, licenses and equipment |
| Outage planning | Agree and test alternate routing | Review PBX, circuit and power dependencies |
| Best starting point | You want service without the local PBX appliance | The supported system still meets your needs |
How to Plan Hosted Pbx
- 1
Map the users
Identify who needs an extension, what they answer and which features they require.
- 2
Check the building
Confirm devices, internet, switch ports, power and any analog equipment before agreeing installation scope.
- 3
Configure and train
Agree greetings, call handling and staff handover; prepare the system before transferring public numbers.
- 4
Verify the result
Test incoming and outgoing calls, caller ID, closed hours, voicemail and the agreed contingency behavior.
When Hosted Pbx Is the Wrong Answer
A working, supported PBX may not need replacing; assess its actual shortcomings and a SIP connection first.
If reliable internet and power cannot be provided, address those dependencies before moving business calling.
High-volume contact-center requirements need a specifically qualified platform and commercial scope, rather than assuming ordinary business-user plans fit.
Plan the work before choosing a date
Tell us about your office
Get a phone-service quote with the installation scope spelled out. Compare the whole job before deciding which provider fits.
Request a phone-system quote
Step 1 — What do you need?
What to settle before you switch
- 1
We review your requirements
Start with users, site locations and the system you have today. You do not need a finished specification to ask for a quote.
- 2
Separate service, equipment and installation
Ask for the recurring plan, optional desk phones, onsite work and applicable fees to be shown separately. Site readiness and devices determine the installation scope.
- 3
Agree the port and installation plan
Contract dates, site access and carrier confirmation shape the target cutover. Keep current service active until the number transfer is confirmed complete.
Other Ways to Fix a Business Phone System
Fax machine lines: a line of its own for a fax machine or MFP, adapter included
Installed onsite nationwide, and locally from Salinas
For multi-location deployments, a member of our team is onsite to roll out the system at every location you need. Close to our Salinas office, each of these has its own page.
Hosted PBX FAQs
How is hosted PBX different from VoIP?
Can we keep existing desk phones?
Can a remote team use this without an office installation?
Does hosted service automatically protect us from an internet outage?
How do we choose a plan?
What happens to a physical fax machine?
How long does installation take?
What should we check before accepting the system?
Get a Quote on Your Phone System
Tell us your extension count and current provider. We price the port and the install together.
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