Cost Containment | Wireless PBXs

This merging of home, mobile, and work communications—while convenient to the user—could result in a dilemma for companies that must decide whether to foot the bill for home equipment and fees that make workers more available. However, companies that continue to cut staff to improve the bottom line and stay competitive in world markets may find that picking up such costs is a bargain. To meet the need for cost containment, there are many useful features that have become available.

To help contain the cost of mobile communications, some wireless PBXs offer call control features that include call barring to restrict calls on certain phone numbers, and itemized billing to help apportion call charges. Different types of users can be given different account codes. It is also possible for organizations to identify personal calls and agree with staff that they may receive or make calls from those numbers on their work phone, with the additional costs billed to them personally.

Phone usage can also be controlled in much the same way as with a traditional business telephone system, with features like identified extensions, call screening, and re-routing. Depending on vendor, the phones can also incorporate real-time charging advice, informing the caller whether or not they are in the office zone, which may be charged at a cheaper rate. For example, in-house calls might be charged at a very low rate, other "internal" calls may be billed at an intermediate rate, and external calls charged at the national or international rate, as appropriate.