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[Write to us](/gb/request-information "Write to us") ### Hybrid telephone system [What is a traditional analog phone system?](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/hybrid-telephone-system#section-3) [What is a VoIP phone system?](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/hybrid-telephone-system#section-4) [How can hybrid telephone systems help organisations future proof their operations?](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/hybrid-telephone-system#section-5) [Do hybrid telephony systems support all kinds of voice calls?](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/hybrid-telephone-system#section-6) [What are the advantages of a hybrid telephone system?](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/hybrid-telephone-system#section-7) [How do I migrate to a hybrid telephone system?](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/hybrid-telephone-system#section-8) # Hybrid telephone system **What is a hybrid telephone system?** A hybrid telephone system can be thought of as a stepping stone between a traditional analog phone system and a [Voice-over-IP (VoIP)](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/voice-over-ip) phone system. Usually, the purpose of a hybrid telephone system is to ensure a seamless transition to a VoIP setup in the future. ### Hybrid ![](https://a.storyblok.com/f/290788/f4a692b4c6/hybrid_telephone_system.jpg) ### What is a traditional analog phone system? Traditional analog telephone systems route calls over the [Public-Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/pstn), which is a collection of fibre cables, copper wires and sub-sea cables. A set of standards and protocols called the [Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/isdn) is used to create a dedicated connection between users for the duration of the voice call. It is important to note that the PSTN is completely separate to the internet. ### What is a VoIP phone system? An IP phone system routes calls over the internet instead of the PSTN. To do this, it breaks down voice data into packets and sends them to the recipient across the most efficient internet route. This is much more efficient than routing calls over the PSTN, delivering major cost savings for organisations. Examples of VoIP telephone systems include [Cloudya, the NFON Cloud Telephone System](/gb/en/products/cloudya) and Skype for Business. ### How can hybrid telephone systems help organisations future proof their operations? Across Europe, ISDN is being decommissioned and, in the longer term, the PSTN is likely to become obsolete as well. This means that many organisations who rely on traditional telephony infrastructure need to prepare for all-IP voice calling. As a stepping stone between traditional telephony systems and VoIP, hybrid telephone systems can help organisations make the transition to VoIP telephony seamlessly and with minimal business risk. ### Do hybrid telephony systems support all kinds of voice calls? Yes, they do. Specifically, hybrid telephone systems support legacy calling technologies as well as IP-based calling, including: * Mobile phone calls * Landline calls * ISDN calls * VoIP calls ### What are the advantages of a hybrid telephone system? Hybrid telephone systems have a number of key benefits. These include: **No-risk migration to VoIP telephony** Hybrid telephone systems reduce business risks when transitioning from traditional analog phone systems to VoIP telephony. They do this by extending returns on existing telephony infrastructure investments, such as [Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs)](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/private-branch-exchange-pbx). At the same time, hybrid telephone systems implement traditional phone technologies and VoIP calling in parallel, ensuring that telephone services are never interrupted during the switchover. **Reduced calling costs** By digitising voice data and routing it over the internet efficiently, VoIP dramatically reduces calling costs compared to traditional telephony systems that route calls over the PSTN. **Efficient management of peak loads** VoIP, the phone network can be scaled efficiently to handle load peaks with a technology called [SIP trunking](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/sip-trunk). ### How do I migrate to a hybrid telephone system? You can migrate to a hybrid telephone system by implementing a VoIP solution such as the NFON Cloud Telephone System. This allows you to use your existing telephone hardware to make VoIP calls. As our telephone system is cloud based, there is no need to install costly in-house hardware or software. The next logical step after VoIP-enabling your existing telephone system is to adopt a cloud-based telephone system such as the NFON Cloud Telephone System. Migrating your telephony to the cloud means you are then free to deactivate your legacy phone infrastructure, including your PBX. To find out more about the benefits of migrating your legacy telephone system to VoIP, please review the following FAQ articles: ### Related Articles ### Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) In telecommunications technology, the abbreviation ISDN stands for the technical term "Integrated Services Digital Network" and refers to a digital standard for telephone networks. As the name implies, various types of communication services can be transmitted through this kind of network. In addition to voice calls, ISDN allows packet-switched or circuit-switched data transmission and fax transmission. In some countries, ISDN technology has taken over from analogue telephone networks, integrating all types of services into a common network for the first time. This digitisation has also enabled digital ISDN phone lines to be made available to end users. In comparison to an analogue connection, an ISDN subscriber line offers a whole range of advantages. The basic ISDN line allows multiple phones or communication [devices](https://web-production.nfon.com/gb/products/devices), with different numbers ([MSNs](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/msn)), to operate and use two parallel connections simultaneously. In addition, the ISDN connection also offers higher data transfer rates to an analogue connection using a modem, for example, when accessing the Internet. To utilise the ISDN line, end users need special ISDN-capable phones or faxes. The use of so-called [A/B converters](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/a-b-interface), linking analogue devices to a digital connection, is common. Meanwhile, other techniques such as DSL or cable connections are used for connecting to the internet. Nowadays, phone technology is evolving away from ISDN and towards IP telephony via [Voice over IP (VoIP).](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/voice-over-ip) [Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/isdn) ### Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) **What is VoIP?** The **Voice over Internet Protocol,** also called IP telephony, is a method of communication for making calls over a broadband Internet connection as an alternative to regular calls made over an analogue phone using the [PSTN](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/pstn). These VoIP calls can happen entirely over the Internet but where required, gateways also link to the PSTN. This means that VoIP users can still connect to anyone with a telephone number including local, mobile, and international numbers. VoIP services can be accessed from a computer with a so-called [softphone,](/gb/get-started/cloud-telephony/lexicon/knowledge-base-detail/softphones) from an IP phone, from a smartphone or from a conventional landline phone that is connected to a VoIP adapter. 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