PCBX Systems Inc, Santa Ana, California has launched a new PABX system based around an MS-DOS personal computer. The system, called PCBX, uses plug-in boards to give the functionality of more high-end PABX systems, and can be used on any personal computer with industry-standard bus. It is aimed at small to medium-sized companies needing reasonably comprehensive PABX facilities, but which cannot justify the cost of a full PABX. Each board, which connects four outside telephone lines with 12 extensions, costs $1,800. Off-the-shelf dumb telephone sets can be used, and the system gives them features including call forwarding, multiple conference calls, call barring, and do-not-disturb, through pre-programmed codes recognised by the board. The system also has a least-cost routing facility, and can be used to monitor the level of telephone traffic. It is also claimed that the PCBX uses very little of the personal computer’s time and resources, meaning that it can be used for other functions as well – if you’re prepared to risk crashing your phone system should the personal computer become overloaded, that is – and the system can operate unattended. On screen information is provided showing the operational status of each phone line, as well as details of the system configuration, and print-outs can be obtained, including complete SMDR, Station Message Detail Recording. These reports can be also be stored to disk. This is the first personal computer-based PABX to be launched, but if it proves successful it could herald the development of many similar products. Indeed, parallels can be drawn with the speech messaging market, where the success of the high-end systems has led to a new breed of low specification systems in the form of personal computer plug-in boards. Whether the new system takes off in the same way will depend on whether the technology proves robust enough in the field.
