Connections

A PBX can be connected to multiple incoming analog telco lines, as well as multiple analog extension phones. A limited number of outside telco lines can be shared between a larger number of internal extensions, with the PBX rolling over each request for an outside line to whichever line happens to be available. PBX can automatically select between different channels when placing an outgoing call based on least cost, availability, or other criteria.

When connected to a LAN, the PBX can use the same ethernet network already being used for file and printer sharing, to combine a mixture of analog lines and telephones, ethernet hardware phones, and software phones running on networked workstations, into a virtual private phone system.

The PBX requires specialized PCI cards to connect to conventional TDM (analog), and/or T1 and E1 (digital) mixed voice and data telco services. The PBX's built-in VoIP protocols support SIP, IAX, and H323 connections over whatever Internet service is available to the server.