MTN Business Kenya unveils IP PBX service

MTN Business Kenya has launched an Internet Protocol private automatic branch exchange, a software-based telephone exchange service in other words set to take on the traditional private branch exchange in business environments.

The facility

The facility, which the company describes as "a seamless and digitized telephony" solution dubbed the MTN Managed IP PBX (Private -Automatic- Branch Exchange) service, is a combination of technologies designed to deliver innovative telephony to business over the Internet.

As a hosted service, it is aimed at helping businesses to significantly reduce any capital expenditure, maintenance and total network costs. It will as well simultaneously increase access to converged applications, letting data and voice, IP and GSM-based applications be managed at the same time, said Tom Omariba, MTN Business Kenya managing director, who launched the service in Nairobi Thursday.

The PABX includes real-time management features that give businesses the ability to monitor services via a user-friendly online portal.

"As voice over Internet protocol matures, the hardware PBX has become increasingly irrelevant," according to Omariba. "All of its functions can be replaced by software, during a range of additional functionality can be introduced," he said.

Omariba said the MTN Managed IP PBX solution is as well built upon the MTN core network infrastructure and subject to strict controls that ensure high levels of availability and reliability.