Advantages of IP PBX...



Cost savings -
For most adopters, the key reason to transition to IP PBX systems is cost savings. As data communications users have long understood, IP offers free communications. Calls are no longer transmitted via the PSTN, but through a broadband internet connection, avoiding PSTN tolls and charges.
Hospitality -Specific feature sets add value -
The hospitality industry is key for IP PBX manufacturers. It is a highly specialized telephony market that represents approximately 30 percent of total telephony capacity. This is evident in the hospitality-specific feature sets now available on the market. Features include intelligent speech recognition for more efficient guest services, and in-building wireless communications.

Property Management System.
A Property Management System (PMS) is used to manage a hotel business. A 3300 ICP, SX-200 ICP, or an SX-2000 system can integrate with a PMS and exchange PMS-related information allowing seamless management of hotel telephone calls from the PMS. A front-desk system can also interface with the PMS to provide reservation control, centralized accounting and billing, and call logging. If desired, the PMS can also be used to automatically manage the Voice Mail system of the controller/PBX.

How it works.
When information about a guest is changed in the front desk system, messages are sent to the PMS which feeds relevant information to the controller/PBX via TCP/IP port 6830. Similarly, when information about any guest is changed on the controller/PBX, messages are sent to the PMS which relays the information to the front desk system. This permits, for example, check-in of a guest to automatically update the phone system so that calls in and out are logged and automatically included in the production of the invoice at check-out time. In addition to controlling calls, PMS integration can automate the management of the controller/PBX Voice Mail system. This way, a guest can have personalized voice mail added to room phone service.

A fixed set of commands is used to exchange information between the PMS and the controller/PBX. Developers use this set of commands to build their property management systems to interface to the phone system.