A hybrid PBX combines existing analog PBX equipment with VoIP. A PBX connects internal users to the outside world with a PRI or BRI, which has 24 channels. There are often many PRIs to connect hundreds of phones. In a hybrid PBX system, these PRIs connect to Hybrid PBX device and the two devices connect to the outside world via both PSTN trunks and SIP credentials. The hybrid PBX also has many IP extensions to connect directly to IP phones in the office.
A hybrid PBX has many of the same great features you can expect from VoIP services, including call rules, auto-attendant, and hold queues. The hybrid PBX also has the capacity for virtual conference rooms, fax over IP, and videoconferences. The hybrid PBX also can do SIP trunking. The most important feature of the hybrid PBX is that if either the analog PBX or the VoIP server isn’t working, it automatically switches over to the other network.
One of the biggest benefits to having a hybrid PBX is for remote offices and secondary locations. Calls from one office to the other go through the hybrid PBX, so there are no long-distance charges. If a location is temporary, such as an amusement park or construction site, you can use cordless phones to connect directly to the hybrid PBX instead of going through the building’s telephone lines.