There are two IP PBXs available from 500 Premises, the MX30 and the MX250. The MX30 is an entry level feature rich IP PBX that supports up to 30 users as a standalone system and the MX250 supports up to 250 users.
However, the power of this PBX system is that either IP PBX can be configured as part of a multi-site system in conjunction with other MX30 and / or MX250 systems for up connection of up to 10,000 users.
There are 2 products that make this possible:
MXcluster™ and MXgroup™
MXcluster™
The MXcluster application provides an easy means of multiplying the system’s capacity of users, resources and services. Up to four MX systems may be connected together to create a single IP PBX for the support of up to 1,000 users in a single system. Once clustered, all systems are managed as a single system through the Administrator UI application. An additional MX system may be configured to provide full-scale redundancy for any system in the MXcluster™.
MXgroup™
MXgroup extends full MX functionality across multiple locations (up to 128 locations), making separate offices appear as a single entity. Users at one location can communicate with users at any other location in the same way they communicate with users at their own location. The MX250 systems communicate with each other in an MXgroup configuration (with or without MXcluster™) over a WAN or the Internet with minimal bandwidth requirements. MXgroups are easy to install and configure. No intervention is required by the users of the systems. The MXgroup can seamlessly scale to 10,000 users and enable global presence, secure communications and allow interactive collaboration across an entire group, regardless of where the IP PBXs are located. Each loacation is independent of issues that may affext others, providing system redundancy and rapid disaster recovery.
MXgroup™ – Key Features & Benefits
- Seamless connectivity for multiple locations, up to 128
- Internal extension dialing, voicemail and fax among all systems
- Presence and Instant Messaging among all users
- Immediate access to directory of all users from any location
- Supports Teleworkers and Remote Access
- Survivability and Disaster Recovery – Failure of any node does not affect operation at other locations
- Up to 128 MX250 systems can be grouped
- Up to 10,000 users in a fully deployed MXgroup installation
- Users can log into any location at any time
- Distributed operators, ACD group members, and ICC call center agents
- Secure communications with encryption between locations
- MXgroup can be administered from multiple locations
- Video calling is supported between locations
Call charges and MXgroup
There are definite cost savings for a multi site business using MXgroup, especially when multiple sites are international.
- PSTN access can be retained at each location or shared between sites
- PSTN calls can be routed over WAN to save toll charges
All internal calls are routed over the WAN so that no PSTN charges apply. The system administrator can configure the dial plan so that certain calls to the PSTN are routed over the WAN to a remote IP PBX and then the the PSTN from that remote location. This allows the lowest cost routes to be used for any outbound calls.
For example,
A business may have an office in the UK and a office in the US with a Zultys IP PBX system in each. Using MXgroup, the UK and USA systems work as a single shared resource. Office calls, i.e. internal calls, using SIP are all free but a call from the UK office to the US office is also free. Even calls from the UK office to a US number, would utilise the US system to make the call using local US call rates. The same principle can apply to mobile calls also: consider a colleague in the US office calls a UK mobile number. This call is routed to the UK system and then could break out onto a GSM gateway device to make the UK mobile call – with the right call plan this call could also be free. There are significant savings to be made on call charges!
