The Guide

Search the guide

Browse by section

4.5. Centrex

Centrex is a ‘virtual’ phone system providing a number of extensions. It is a ‘hosted’ service, which means that the physical equipment and technology is provided, run and maintained by a supplier company. If your practice is looking for a new system but cannot afford an initial outlay on services and hardware, Centrex is often a good solution.

Benefits

  • Offers integrated facilities such as voicemail and call forwarding.
  • No financial outlay is required for hardware such as telephones.
  • As equipment is provided by a supplier, it can be easily updated as technology advances.
  • Enhancements may be available to improve access for hard-to-reach groups.
  • Enables extra lines to be added easily.

Costs

Line rental fees and one-off charges are applicable. Some start at around £17 a month with a connection charge of £25 (current prices for a five-year contract as at March 2009). Telephone handsets providing full functionality cost around £80 each.

Drawbacks

  • Managed by a third-party supplier – you have less control and there may be issues with service level agreements.
  • Monthly fees are payable over a contracted period.
  • New telephone handsets are required for the best use of the system (a supplier may hire these to you or they can be bought outright).
  • There is a limitation on using alternative suppliers for lower call charges.

Pages in this section

Print

Rate this information

You must be logged in to submit a rating.

You must be registered and logged in to request email alerts

Case studies

There are no case studies in this section.

Suppliers

There are no suppliers mentioned in this section.

Useful resources

There are no resources in this section.