Many telephone service providers have been talking about it lately. PRI or Primary Rate Interface is an ISDN equivalent of a T1 circuit. Most businesses users currently use POTS lines. Plain Old Telephone Service or "POTS" Lines are the standard analog line provides local dial tone for the small to medium size business. They are used for such things as making and receiving telephone calls, faxing, modems, security systems and credit card/ATM machines. For each POTS line there is a port in the phone system. Costs associated with POTS lines very from region. POTS lines carry monthly fees and taxes associated with each line. This can add up to be very expensive. POTS service is also referred as switched service. The rule of thumb is at 10 POTS lines with DSL or Cable there is a break even. Anything over 13 Pots lines you can start to experience real savings.
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ISDN PRI digitally delivers your local, long distance, DID and internet service over one 4-wire interface. Your ISDN PRI T-1 has 23 channels that move voice and data along nicely at 64 Kbps. Consolidation makes sense because you reduce your network costs by incorporating PRI into your existing telecommunications blueprint, thus eliminating POTS line charges to the local exchange carrier. The D Channel is the 24th Channel. It constantly communicates with the Central Office ensuring the proper bytes and uninterrupted transmission. It also helps you comply with the E911 Law by delivering the phone number, extension number and physical location of the caller to 911. In addition, you automatically get Caller I.D., the name of the calling party on incoming and outgoing calls.
Adding a T1 or PRI to your existing phone system can provide additional features as well as lower your phone bill.
PRI can send both DID and Caller ID functionality to your phone system. Caller ID or ANI for Automatic Number Identification is great for all sorts of businesses that want to improve customer service and track phone calls. Most of today’s customer relation management software used the caller ID information to do screen pops that bring up the customer’s record on the PC before you answer the phone.
Direct Inward Dial can also enhance a customer’s experience by having them go directly to the appropriate department or person. Without DID numbers everyone has to dial the main number and then calls are distributed from there. This can cause bottle necking and placing customers on hold. If you are not answering the phone live then you are having auto attendant giving lots of boring instructions on what to press to get the caller where they want to go.
Integrating PRI to a phone system requires a PRI integration card for your phone system. Most PBX or Hybrid PBX system have an integrated PRI card or circuit board that interfaces the PRI circuit to the phone system. Check with your Phone system manufacturer. If you have a Lucent or AVAYA phone system including: Merlin Legend, Merlin Magix, Avaya IP Office or Definity PBX, there are PRI interface circuit boards available. PRI Installation and provisioning for any Avaya phone system can be arranged by calling Telcom & Data at 800-335-0229. |
