Is your telephone system future proof?

Is your telephone system future proof?

by Tinder Corp Media, 16th October 2019

Normally when we talk about things being ‘future proof’ we’re talking about a future 3-10 years from now, in which the state of technology is still uncertain, but in which we will most certainly have progressed beyond our current technological requirements. However, in the case of telephony, the ‘future’ is next year and the changes are set in stone. As of 2020 British Telecom will stop providing new PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Networks) systems, with a view to phasing them out completely by 2025 – a move that will definitively put an end to the telephone systems that we know and…well, know.

Much like when TV switched from analogue to digital, the majority of current business phone systems will soon become obsolete.

This is certainly a change for the better; as PSTN and ISDN systems are ill-equipped to deal with the needs of modern businesses, but that doesn’t mean the swap over will be a walk in the park. Changing any office system is going to necessitate time, effort and cost, and many businesses are still unaware that this change is even coming.

That’s why we’re writing this article, to raise awareness of the change and to offer suggestions for alternative systems.

Why act now?

If you’re still using the PSTN or ISDN systems then it may benefit you to make the move sooner rather than later as, from next year, their maintenance will become increasingly difficult and possibly more costly (depending on your supplier – Tinder have pledged to continue to offer our standard maintenance services to analogue customers for as long as they require them).

So what are the alternatives?

Well, once analogue is no more, you have two basic choices: a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) trunk or a Cloud system.

These digital solutions are head and shoulders above current systems. I know that you’d expect us, as an IT company, to automatically go for the new-fangled approach every time, but this is more than just computer nerd excitement: digital systems really are the better option by far.

With a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) based Cloud System you can stay ahead of the latest technology, free up employee time, reduce long term costs and maximise data security. What’s more, Cloud Systems allow for seamless remote working and, with statistics suggesting that 70% of businesses will have implemented flexible working by 2020, this sort of flexibility is a must have for forward thinking companies.

If you’re unsure of the best solution for you then please contact your IT contractor for advice, but don’t leave it too late. The future is nearly here.

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