Every modern organization needs an efficient, professional, and technology-driven telephony solution that meets today’s standards. One of the better-known options in recent years has been Centrex PBX. While this solution has seen success, the market now offers even newer and more efficient telephony alternatives.
What is Centrex PBX?
Centrex, short for Central Exchange, is a legacy telephony model where an external provider handles the infrastructure and features—such as call routing and system management—rather than the organization hosting and maintaining its own equipment. Before Centrex, companies were required to store their PBX (Private Branch Exchange) on-site, which was costly and cumbersome. Centrex allows businesses to outsource their voice communication systems without the need for internal maintenance or setup from scratch.
In a Centrex system, the provider takes care of the equipment and ongoing support, while customers pay a monthly fee, typically per line. This approach is commonly used by organizations that need multiple lines but do not want the complexity of maintaining their own PBX. Traditional PBX systems route calls through an organization’s internal network separate from their computer network—similar to older, standalone switchboards. This older technology offers features such as call hold, call transfer, conference calls, and “do not disturb” settings. Although PBX systems still exist, fewer organizations rely on PSTN, which requires outdated wiring. Many businesses have transitioned to IP-based systems—commonly referred to as IP PBX.
A company using Centrex contracts receives a set number of phone lines based on the number of users. The provider’s server connects the telephony system to the network via a DSL router linked to IP endpoints.
Cloud-Based Telephony: A More Modern Service Model
Unlike legacy Centrex, cloud telephony uses a more modern service model that leverages cloud technology to deliver internet-based communication. With cloud telephony, all infrastructure and features are hosted on remote servers, accessed over the network. This eliminates the need for on-site hardware, reduces costs, and provides businesses with greater flexibility and scalability.
Cloud telephony is often considered a natural evolution of Centrex. While both offer centralized management, scalability, and cost savings, cloud-based systems add advantages such as rapid deployment, easy access from anywhere with an internet connection, and seamless integration with other cloud-based tools. It’s not uncommon for people to refer to cloud telephony as Centrex simply out of habit, similar to how some use “Frigidaire” as a generic term for refrigerators.
What Are the Advantages of Centrex?
בגדול המרכזיות בארץ הן פיזיות, וירטואליות או בענן. כאמור, אלו המשתמשים בביטוי “סנטריקס” לרוב מתכוונים למרכזיות וירטואליות ובפרט בענן.
כיום לצד המרכזיות הפיזיות, המרכזיות הנפוצות הן מרכזיות IP-Centrex, כלומר מרכזיות חיצוניות בטכנולוגיית IP שאינן דורשות מרכזייה פיזית במשרדי הלקוח. כאמור, היתרון המשמעותי הוא הוצאה של הטיפול מידיו של איש ה-IT ומיקומם של השרתים פיזית בארגון, לטובת ספק תקשורת חיצוני המטפל באופן מרוכז במספר לקוחות במקביל וחוסך להם את הזמן, המקום והטרחה. ההבדל במעבר לטכנולוגיית IP הוא שמדובר בשירות שניתן באופן וירטואלי ומבוסס אינטרנט (Internet Protocol), או ליתר דיוק – הענן. בין היתר, הדבר אומר שהסלולרי יכול לשמש בתור טלפון עסקי תוך שימוש במספר העסקי, ובכך לאפשר להמשיך לעבוד בשיא הקלות מכל מקום שיש בו אינטרנט.
שירותי IP סנטריקס, בדומה לשירותי טלפוניה בענן, מתאימים לחברות בכל הגדלים ולא רק לגדולות. מבחינת העסק הציוד הדרוש הוא טלפונים – או הרגילים או כאלה המיועדים לשימוש ב-SIP, כאשר כאמור גם הסלולרי הפרטי יכול לקבל שיחות.
What Are the Advantages of Centrex?
Centrex users avoid the expense and effort of purchasing and managing on-site telephony equipment. The PBX connects to a central server operated by a public telephone provider (PTO) via data and voice channels known as trunks. While the public network carries voice and data over these trunks, the PBX handles distribution within the organization. This approach is ideal for businesses that prefer not to invest in or manage their own telecom infrastructure.
Centrex is especially attractive for organizations that do not require a large number of lines. These businesses benefit from sophisticated voice and data services, such as smart call routing and voicemail, without the capital expenses of a traditional PBX. However, as technology evolves, there are now far more advanced solutions available.
Telephony Options Available in Israel
In Israel, telephony systems generally fall into three categories: physical, virtual, and cloud-based. Many who mention Centrex are actually referring to virtual or cloud-based systems.
Today, along with traditional physical PBX systems, the more common choices include IP-Centrex systems—external IP-based PBX platforms that do not require on-site hardware. A key advantage of IP-based systems is that they remove the IT department’s responsibility for server management. Instead, the servers are located off-site and managed by a telecommunications provider that serves multiple customers. This centralized management saves time, space, and resources for each business.
Switching to IP technology means moving to an internet-based service, or more precisely, a cloud solution. This also enables mobile phones to function as business phones with dedicated business numbers, allowing employees to work seamlessly from any internet-connected location.
The Difference Between Centrex and Cloud-Based Telephony
Cloud telephony offers several benefits over legacy Centrex systems, making it an excellent choice for today’s communication needs. Unlike Centrex, which relies on traditional on-premise hardware, cloud telephony is fully internet-based, utilizing virtual servers. This setup provides far greater flexibility and scalability. Businesses can quickly expand their communication infrastructure without upfront hardware costs. Additionally, cloud telephony often includes advanced features like real-time analytics, automatic call routing, and seamless integration with other cloud services, allowing for efficient workflows.
The fact that cloud telephony is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection further enhances its appeal. Employees can work remotely, maintaining consistent and reliable communication regardless of location. With its flexibility, cost efficiency, and advanced functionality, cloud telephony has become a modern and effective alternative to Centrex systems.
In contrast to Centrex, cloud telephony does not depend on a fixed location. The infrastructure is housed in a remote data center, outside the organization’s premises. Companies utilizing cloud-based services benefit from a SaaS model, in which an external provider handles implementation and daily operations. As a result, organizations can enjoy a secure, streamlined communication experience with essential features such as call routing, number portability, and third-party app integrations.
Why Zoom Phone?
Having covered traditional solutions, it’s time to introduce the next generation—cloud-based telephony. While cloud telephony still relies on external providers for service, it stores all data in the cloud. Zoom Phone is a leading solution in this space, making it an ideal choice for organizations already using Zoom. By expanding the existing Zoom ecosystem to include telephony, businesses can leverage a familiar platform rather than adopting an entirely new one.
Similar to Zoom’s widely recognized video solution and other communication tools, Zoom Phone integrates seamlessly into a unified, secure environment. The platform’s intuitive interface and centralized management make it easy to maintain and monitor. As a SaaS solution, it eliminates the need for server cabinets, complex wiring, or on-site hardware.
Naotech’s experts, in collaboration with Zoom, provide dedicated guidance and support to help businesses maximize the potential of Zoom Phone. With nearly 20 years of experience, Naotech ensures that Zoom Phone offers a seamless, efficient, and reliable telephony experience. Businesses seeking a robust communication solution will find Zoom Phone to be an excellent fit. To learn more, contact Naotech today and let us guide you through the next steps.
