Compare Phone System Types
| On Premise | Cloud / Hosted | Hybrid | |
| Auto Attendant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Call Accounting | Optional | Yes | Optional |
| Call Forwarding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Call Recording | Yes | Optional | Optional |
| Caller ID | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conference Bridge | Included in some systems | Optional | Included in some systems |
| CRM Integration | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Customizable Music / Commercial On Hold | Included in some systems | Yes | Included in some systems |
| Headset Connecivity | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Integrated Cordless Phones | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Integration | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Multi Location | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Music On Hold | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online Portal | No | Yes | No |
| Paging Systems | Yes | Optional | Yes |
| Quick Page | Yes | No | Yes |
| Smart Phone APP | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Soft Phone – Answer Calls from PC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Conference Phones | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video Conferencing | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Virtual Answer | Yes | No | Yes |
| Visual Voice Mail | Yes | No | Yes |
| Voice Mail | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Mail to Email | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Business Phones | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wireless Conference Phones | Yes | Optional | Yes |
Still Need Help Deciding?
Here are five questions that can help you determine what system might be right for you.
1. Does your company focus on long-term or short-term expenses?
- On-Premise:
- After three years of use, tends to be a better value
- Large one-time purchase and own
- Cloud:
- First year expenses are generally lower
- Smaller ongoing monthly payments
2. Do you have IT resources?
- On-Premise:
- Your IT team will assume responsibility
- Local Applications and data
- Locally administrated systems
- Do-it-yourself upgrades
- Cloud:
- Provider will be responsible for fixing issues
- Offsite applications and data
- Reduced system administration needs
- Provider Manages Upgrades
3. How is your company setup?
- On-Premise:
- One main office or building
- Localized Upgrades
- Storage and network already in place
- Cloud:
- Multiple offices and/or buildings
- Upgrade Process is Simpler
- Private cloud connection or reliable and secure internet required
4. Do you need to integrate your phone system?
- On-Premise:
- Multiple integrations
- Growing and intricate
- Changing with communication both ways
- Cloud:
- Few, or no integrations
- Specific and known
- Fixed and uni-directional
5. Has your company had experience with Cloud?
- On-Premise:
- Little to no experience with Cloud
- Business software is installed locally
- Cloud applications are seen as risky
- Cloud:
- You’re currently using other cloud services
- Cloud model is understood and accepted
- Management approves support for Cloud
