3CX, in Switzerland A private PBX that you own, installed wherever you want, and a bill that isn't based on the number of employees.
The real question isn't whether 3CX is any good. It's how many calls you make at the same time.3CX It’s not billed per user: it’s billed once a year, for the entire system, based on the number of concurrent calls. That’s what makes it unbeatable when you have a lot of extensions and few simultaneous calls. And that’s exactly where the math backfires: each tier of concurrent calls also imposes a maximum number of extensions, and this is usually discovered only after signing the contract. This page is written so that you know this beforehand.
The Model, in Plain Terms
A phone service that isn't billed to the employee.
Virtually all business phone plans are billed per user per month. 3CX takes a different approach: a single annual fee for the entire system, calculated based on the number of calls that can take place simultaneously. This has three consequences—and the third one is the one people tend to overlook.
Hiring doesn't cost anything extra
An additional position does not trigger an additional billing line as long as the traffic remains within the tier. With a fluctuating workforce—seasonal, temporary, apprentices, production staff—this is the most noticeable difference right from the first year.
The phone bill becomes predictable, and it is no longer a reason not to hire someone.
Your numbers and lines remain negotiable
3CX is not a carrier: it connects to the SIP connection of your choice, and you can switch providers without changing your phone service. When your carrier revises its rates, you’ll be on equal footing in negotiations.
The freedom to renegotiate is often worth more than the savings in the first year.
The cap also limits the number of positions
Each tier of concurrent calls is subject to a maximum number of extensions and a fair-use policy. A large workforce that makes few calls may therefore be required to move up a tier for reasons unrelated to call volume.
This is the only number in the file that needs to be double-checked. We check it before calculating the total.
The flip side—and we’ll be frank about it. With fewer than about 15 users, the gap with a per-user subscription narrows; and if your employees are already covered by a Microsoft 365 license that includes phone service, the comparison may tip in the other direction. We run the numbers for both options and show you the calculation — even when it doesn’t work in our favor.
The Only Irreversible Decision
Count the number of concurrent calls—before anything else.
Everything else in a 3CX project can be adjusted: a call forwarding number, a call group, a greeting message, a phone. But the capacity cannot —if it’s too low, the line will be busy at 11:00 a.m. on a Tuesday; if it’s too high, you’ll be paying for extra capacity you don’t need for three years. Here’s how we set it up.
Actual traffic, not the number of workstations
What matters is the number of overlapping conversations during the busiest hour of the busiest month. On a business phone system, this number is almost always much lower than one might expect.
What the readings show: Thelogs from the existing PBX or the operator connection, over a period of four to six weeks. A two-day reading never captures the peak—it rarely falls on the right day.
Internal calls count, too
The count includes both internal and external calls. A company with multiple locations, where employees frequently call each other from one building to another, uses up simultaneous call capacity that no one had anticipated.
What stands out: Thepercentage of internal traffic out of total traffic, by site. This is the primary cause of an undersized tier, and it does not appear on a carrier bill.
The staffing cap for the target level
Each floor has a maximum number of extensions. We verify that everything— landlines, cell phones, conference rooms, receptionists, fax machines, and shared extensions—fits within that limit with some leeway.
What Stands Out: Acomplete inventoryof everything that will be assigned a number. A doorman, an elevator alarm, and a printer that sends faxes each occupy a station, and none of them appear on any organizational chart.
The Margin, and How to Get Out of It
We size it with a margin, and we document what happens on the day it is used up: moving up a tier occurs during the year, and the prorated amount is known in advance.
Key Considerations: Seasonality, marketing campaigns, and year-end periods. A company whose traffic doubles for three weeks a year cannot base its capacity on either its average or its annual peak, and the difference between the two adds up.
This analysis is the first step in the project, not a prerequisite — it’s not free: it involves engineering work on your data, and it’s what makes the quote accurate. What we’re happy to offer is a meeting with the engineers who will do the work —and, while we’re at it, to let you know which logs to retrieve.
Our Position
You can't quantify telephone traffic until you've counted it.
A phone service estimate provided within two days is an estimate that doesn't account for actual usage. It's only accurate half the time—and the other half, you're the one who pays the difference, whether it's in overage charges or busy signals.
A threshold that's too low isn't apparent at the point of sale
On the day the system goes live, everything works fine: there aren't any spikes yet. The problem arises three weeks later, just when your switchboard is needed most.
You can never tell if a step is too high
No one tells you that you're paying one tier too much. It's money that slips away every year without you even noticing, and you have to do the math to realize it.
The staffing cap halts the rollout
This one is immediately obvious—and it happens at the worst possible moment: you plug in the last units, and the system rejects them. It’s resolved with an emergency amendment, and it should never happen.
The question everyone is asking
3CX or Microsoft Teams Phone?
We do both. That’s what allows us to advise you on your challenges rather than on what we know how to sell—and you can verify this: ask us for references from both sides. A service provider who can only provide one of the two answers will always say it’s yours.
| What Matters | 3CX | Microsoft Teams Phone |
|---|---|---|
| The bill | An annual fee for the entire system, based on the number of concurrent calls, with a cap on the number of lines per tier. Traffic determines the cost, not the number of employees. | One phone service license per user, plus the connection fee or the minutes. The staff decides, and they decide every month. |
| What You're Already Paying | None of your Microsoft software counts here. This is a separate budget, and it is transparent. | If your employees already have a license that includes phone service, part of the cost has already been covered. Teams Phone then becomes hard to beat—and we're not just saying that. |
| The equipment already in place | 3CX's product line. SIP phones, professional wireless devices, gateways for analog lines, door phones, fax machines, elevator alarms: the system is right in your home, alongside what’s already plugged in. | Possible, but it would require a session controller and gateways. That's one more component to install, maintain, and update. |
| Check-in, lines, supervision | Included starting with the PRO edition: queues, display wall, supervision panel, listen-in and whisper modes, automatic redial, and recording. No additional purchases required. | A basic queue exists. A true onboarding platform requires one additional product —a specialized editor or Microsoft’s contact center tool. |
| The customer file in the call | Integration with the management software starting with the PRO edition: the record opens when the call comes in, and the call is logged in the record. | Use the contact center tool or Dynamics 365. It’s more powerful if you’re already using it, but more cumbersome otherwise. |
| Where is the system located? | The choice is yours: on-premises, at a Swiss hosting provider, as part of your subscription Azure, or hosted by 3CX. | At Microsoft, in your tenant's region. It's a service, not a server: there's nothing to choose and nothing to manage. |
| Who operates it? | It’s a server: updates, backups, certificates, monitoring. At your location, or under our management contract. That’s the cost that comparisons overlook. | Microsoft runs it; you manage it. Less work, and less control: changes are made without your consent. |
| Freedom from the operator's perspective | Choose your SIP connection; it can be changed without affecting your phone service. Your numbers remain the same. | Four possible connections, and the choice you make will determine your freedom for years to come. It’s the most difficult decision on this side, and you only get to make it once. |
| Mobility and Remote Work | Desktop and mobile apps, and a built-in session controller for remote workstations. Robust, and requires no additional hardware. | Its natural environment. The call comes through in the app that the person has already opened, with screen sharing and the meeting all in one place. |
| AI in Telecommunications | AI Edition: transcription, summary, tone of the conversation, automatic receptionist, assistant, agents. This is the highest tier, so it represents a significant budgetary increase. | Requires a Copilot license per user. This is a budget item, not a checkbox. |
In our experience, the key difference comes down to one thing: many workstations that make few calls, existing equipment to keep, and a reception area with lines— 3CX has the advantage. A workforce already laid off from the call center, widespread remote work, and little specialized equipment— Teams Phone has the advantage. We have to weigh the pros and cons of both options, and that’s exactly what we do before making a recommendation.
What if the answer were both?
3CX can survive on Microsoft's coattails Teams
Direct routing connects the two: your employees call from Teams, and 3CX handles the switchboard, call queues, and equipment. This is the right setup when the reception area and existing infrastructure are on your premises, but everyone works at Teams.
What you need to know before getting too excited: This connection requires the AI edition and at least sixteen concurrent calls, a certificate issued by an authority recognized by Microsoft, a static public IP address, an open port— and a Teams -per-user telephony license, nonetheless. So you end up paying for both models. It’s an excellent setup, but it’s rarely the cheapest option.
Telephony on Microsoft TeamsFour paths—and they are not all equal
Where is your PBX located?
This is the decision that depends most on you, and it must be made before any technical considerations. 3CX can be installed Windows just as easily on Linux, on a virtual machine, or on a hosting plan. The key question isn’t a technical one: it’s about knowing who controls the system and where your data is stored.
On your own server
A virtual machine running on your existing infrastructure. Nothing leaves your premises, and phone service continues even if the access line goes down—internal extensions can still call each other.
What this requires: a public IP address, a firewall that is kept up to date, verified backups, and someone to install updates. This is exactly what an operating mandate entails.
At a data center in Switzerland
The system is hosted by a local hosting provider under a subscription in your name. You retain complete control over the system and its data, without having to renew any hardware.
What this requires: choosing a hosting provider and ensuring a proper connection between your websites and the provider. This is the most common setup when data location is a concern.
In Microsoft's Swiss region
The system runs on your own subscription, in a Swiss region, alongside the rest of your IT infrastructure. Backups, monitoring, and disaster recovery are handled using the same tools as your other servers.
What this requires: a subscription Azure maintained properly. This is our specialty: we also host your servers on Azure.
The publisher creates and updates
The simplest and most cost-effective option: 3CX deploys the instance, applies the patches, performs nightly backups, and monitors the system. You continue to manage your workstations and call rules.
What you need to know: This hosting service relies on major global platforms, and no Swiss region is listed. If the location of your data matters, choose one of the other three options—and if it doesn't matter, this one is often the right choice.
The actual scope
What's already included, and starting with which edition.
Three editions: Basic, PRO, AI, all starting with eight simultaneous calls. Much of what others charge for as an optional feature is already included—but not in all editions, and that’s the kind of detail that determines your budget. Here’s the breakdown, so you don’t pay too much or too little.
The standard, schedules, and cross-references
Multi-level voice reception, call groups, operating hours, voicemail, directory, intercom, and public address. This is the foundation, and it’s fully featured right from the start.
Off-site positions, without additional equipment
A session controller is built into the system: a phone located at home or in a branch office can connect without the need to install any dedicated equipment.
The website's chat feature, short messages
Live chat on your website—an extension available for WordPress sites—and text messages appear in the same app as calls.
Queues and Supervision
Queues, display wall, monitoring dashboard, call monitoring and whisper mode, automatic callbacks, response time alerts, queue-by-queue reports. A professional customer service experience without having to purchase a second product.
Recording Conversations
Call recording and related reports. The AI version allows you to pause recording during a call —this takes effect as soon as a card number is spoken aloud.
The customer file in the call
Integration with management software: The record opens when the phone is picked up, and the call is automatically logged. With a shared phone line, for offices with rotating staff.
Linked Sites and Videoconferencing
Connecting sites to each other and hosting video meetings within the same tool—one hundred participants in the PRO version, two hundred fifty in the AI version. The Basic version does not include video conferencing.
Multiple companies, one system
A single system can support multiple legally separate companies, each with its own numbers and rules. This is useful for a corporate group, a management company, a trust company, or a holding company.
AI in Conversation
Transcription, call summary, tone of the conversation, automated receptionist, personal assistant, and agents. Also includes routing by skill, automatic transfer to a second server, and the programming interface.
Two points to note that will help you avoid unpleasant surprises. The Basic edition does not allow you to choose the system’s public address —a detail that isn’t apparent during the demo but becomes very obvious when you want an address in your own name. And several features are only available with sixteen or more simultaneous calls, regardless of the edition: integration with hotel management software, integrated data import, the on-premises transcription server, and integration with Microsoft Teams. We’ll verify these two points for your specific situation before preparing a quote.
Three Questions
What if " 3CX " isn't the answer?
Three questions, no contact information to provide, and a conclusion that names a trend, the trap that comes with it, and what we would be giving up. Two of the five conclusions do not lead to a project 3CX : one directs you to compare it with Teams Phone, the other tells you not to change anything. They are written out as well, and that is what makes the other three credible.
Answer the three questions.
The conclusion is written right here. Nothing is sent, nothing is saved, and there is no address to provide in order to read it.
The Movement
Replace the PBX, keeping everything connected to it.
This is the most common—and most underestimated—scenario: the focus is not on replacement, but on reusing existing equipment. We identify everything that has a number—phones, cordless phones, analog lines, intercoms, fax machines, alarms—then we note what can be carried over as-is, what goes through a gateway, and what needs to be replaced. Your numbers remain the same, and the transition takes place in stages, with the old system remaining available until you approve the switch.
Take stock of what you're paying for—and what you're not using.
You’ve already 3CX : your topic isn’t a project—it’s a fine-tuning. Three things hold true, and there’s almost always room for improvement in at least one of them: does your limit on concurrent calls still match your traffic, does your version include features that no one uses —or, conversely, are there features missing—and is your version still receiving updates? We also take over operations if your current partner is no longer maintaining them.
Decide between Teams Phone and 3CX —just this once—based on the numbers.
In your situation, both answers are valid, and it would be dishonest to recommend one to you based on a webpage. We’ll break down the costs for both over three years —including licenses, connection, hardware, porting, and operating hours— and tell you which one we’d choose, along with the reason. Sometimes it’s Teams Phone, and we’ll mention that too; other times it’s both, with 3CX serving as the backbone for Teams.
Breakdown of costs by user.
Today, you pay an amount based on your headcount, even though your traffic doesn’t follow that pattern. This is exactly where 3CX pays for itself —a single annual fee for the system, based on concurrent calls. We track your actual traffic, set the right tier, verify the maximum number of extensions, and compare the three-year projection with your current bill. If the difference doesn’t justify the switch, we’ll let you know.
Don't change anything right now. Keep an eye on two dates.
Your phone service is working, and there’s no reason to make a change: there’s no urgency, and we won’t make one up for you. Two dates are worth noting, however, because they determine the timeline for you on your behalf: the expiration date of your service provider contract, which is the only time when renegotiating costs nothing, and the end of support for your equipment or software version, after which a breakdown becomes an emergency. Find these dates, mark them in your calendar, and give us a call six months in advance.
The Pitfall in Your Case
No one has counted, and that's the only figure that matters.
Do not sign any telephone service contract until the number of concurrent calls has been recorded in your own logs. This is the only parameter that cannot be corrected retroactively without an amendment: if it’s too low, your switchboard will ring “busy” during peak hours; if it’s too high, you’ll pay for an extra tier for the entire duration of the subscription. And the selected tier also imposes a maximum number of extensions: it is this limit—not the traffic—that causes activation failures. A provider that provides estimates without verifying the numbers has not done its job.
Items connected to the old system that no one has inventoried.
The lines that don’t appear on any flowchart are the ones that cause a switchover to fail. The elevator alarm, the parking garage attendant, the office fax machine, the service elevator line, the warehouse wireless terminal, the loading dock station: each occupies a station, each has a constraint, and none appear in a licensing table. Some even require maintaining a physical line. We identify them before the proposal, not on the day of the switchover —that’s the part of the job you can’t make up for later.
Publishing, and what it truly opens up.
A reception area with queues, monitoring, and call recording is never included in the entry-level edition—neither at 3CX nor anywhere else. At 3CX, queues, the display wall, the monitoring dashboard, call monitoring, automatic callbacks, call recording, and linking to customer records are available starting with the PRO edition; routing by skill and all AI-related features are included in the AI edition; and several features are only available for plans supporting sixteen or more simultaneous calls, regardless of the edition. This rule applies to any offer you receive: if it does not specify the selected tier, it provides no information about the scope of service.
Multiple sites, multiple companies: two topics, not one.
Separating companies within the same system and linking sites to one another are two distinct issues, and they are almost always confused. In 3CX, the separation between companies—numbers, directories, rules, logs—is established as early as the entry edition; linking sites to one another, on the other hand, begins with the PRO edition. Above all—and this applies to any system— calls from one building to another count as simultaneous calls, and this is the primary cause of undersizing in a company with multiple sites. Internal traffic must be accounted for on a site-by-site basis.
The exit, and who has the keys.
A phone service is judged as much by how easy it is to cancel it as by how easy it is to sign up for it. Three points must be specified in the contract—and never added later: who owns your phone numbers and how long it takes to transfer them; in whose name the service subscription and administrative access are registered—yours or the provider’s; and exactly what the paid year covers— at 3CX : security patches, system updates, phone firmware, and operator templates. A subscription that isn’t renewed means, first and foremost, a system that no longer receives patches—and that isn’t immediately apparent. These three points are the same for all providers: go check them in your current contract.
What we would deliver first
- Your Traffic Report over four to six weeks, both internally and externally, with the actual peak date specified rather than estimated.
- The selected tier and its margin, plus verifying the maximum number of items in the complete inventory of everything that will be assigned a number.
- The three-year comparison compared to one model per user, including operating hours. That’s where your profile comes into play: lots of shifts, few calls.
- Hour-by-hour peak measurements, on your logs: this is the profile where sizing is determined down to the step, in both directions.
- The Design of the Reception Area : lines, overcrowding, priorities, estimated wait times, what happens when no one answers. That’s what makes the difference in how it feels.
- Fair Publishing, and Why : In a highly complex scenario, the discrepancy between PRO and AI may or may not be justified, and this can be demonstrated.
- The survey comes before any cost estimates. We'll tell you which newspapers to pick up, and we'll go through them. We don't submit an offer until we've counted the votes.
- A list of what will be assigned a number : extensions, mobile phones, conference rooms, doormen, fax machines, alarms. These factors determine the limit, and there is currently no such limit anywhere.
- An offer that's off by just one digit, including the tier, its margin, and the pro-rata amount calculated in advance for the day when the rate needs to be raised.
This diagnosis is not a quote: it identifies a trend and a pitfall, and it does not replace your traffic report. An engineer may call you back to discuss it—with no obligation, and without you having to provide any information here.
What we say before, not after
Eight things to know before signing.
None of these are deal-breakers, and each can be addressed. They are listed here because discovering them after signing the contract is costly, and because a vendor who lists them in advance is one who has already encountered them.
The subscription is annual, and there are no longer any lifetime licenses
3CX is paid annually for the entire system. The subscription includes the following: security patches, system updates, firmware, and phone models, carrier models, certificate services, and mobile apps.
What this gives you: a fixed price known in advance, with no commitment for several years, and the option to downgrade your plan upon renewal if the scope turns out to be broader than necessary. We specify in the offer what is covered for the year, and what will be discontinued if the plan is not renewed.
There is a free version, and it's not a business phone service
It is limited to four simultaneous calls, can only be installed on your computer, is designed for desktop and mobile applications without desk phones, and the publisher reserves the right to remove features without notice.
What this gives you: a great way to test the system, build a team, or conduct an internal demo—and one more reason not to confuse a test with a production rollout. We’d be happy to set up this test with you.
It's a server, so it's in operation
Updates, verified backups, expiring certificates, firewalls, monitoring. This is the cost that price comparisons consistently overlook, and it’s also the reason why a poorly maintained 3CX doesn’t hold up well over time.
What this gives you: a choice. Your team manages it— 3CX is actually designed to be managed in-house—or we manage it under an operating agreement, with reports you can review. Both options come with a price, and we include both in the proposal.
The entry-level edition does not allow you to choose the system's public address
An address in your name—the one your collaborators see in the app, the one that appears on the certificates—requires the PRO or AI edition. In the Basic edition, the address is provided by the publisher.
What this gives you: one more, very concrete criterion for deciding between Basic and PRO—and a point that never comes up in demos. We include it in the numerical comparison rather than in a footnote.
The integration with Microsoft Teams combines both models
Making Teams calls through 3CX is possible and reliable, but it requires the AI edition, at least sixteen concurrent calls, a certificate issued by an authority recognized by Microsoft, a fixed public address— and a telephony license Teams per user nonetheless.
What this gives you: the best of both worlds when the reception area and equipment are at your location and everyone works in Teams. We’re providing a cost estimate for this setup alongside the other two, so the comparison is fair.
Your phone numbers and lines come from a carrier, not from 3CX
3CX It's the system, not the phone service plan. You need a SIP connection, and the choice of carrier affects call quality, emergency calls, and the price per minute just as much as everything else.
What this gives you: the freedom to choose and switch—something an all-in-one plan doesn't allow. We help you compare providers, we set up your connection, and we handle the porting of your numbers.
Emergency calls are planned; they aren't just checked off a list
A device that moves around—a laptop, a cell phone, or a phone taken home—doesn't automatically reveal its location. At an industrial site or a building with multiple addresses, this is a serious issue.
What this gives you: an issue addressed at the design stage, with a written policy for each site and job type—rather than discovering it the day someone calls 144. It’s included in our standard report.
Windows or Linux: the choice is up to your team
3CX It runs on both, and both work. The difference lies in who will be able to update it in three years, and what backup and monitoring tools will be used.
What this gives you: a decision made for the right reason. We recommend whichever your team is already familiar with—and if no one is familiar with either one, that’s an argument for hosting rather than an operating system.
One term, four phases
How We Work.
Each step produces something that you keep, even if you stop there. The records and comparisons have value even without us: that is why they are billed, and that is also why they are written with care.
Count
Actual traffic over a four- to six-week period, both internal and external, site by site. Then an inventory of everything that has a number, including items not listed on any organization chart.
This is the step that most offers skip, and it's the one that makes all the subsequent steps work.
Decide
A three-year cost comparison: 3CX, Teams Phone, and a comparison of the two when it makes sense. Licenses, connection fees, hardware, porting, and operating hours.
We'll tell you what we would choose and why. The decision is still yours, and you may choose to do nothing.
To lay
Installation, connection to the service provider, numbering plan, call handling and queues, telephones and gateways, integration with management software, number porting.
The transition will take place in stages, with the option to revert to the previous system at any stage. Our three offices will have staff on site on the day of the transition: at Renens, at Sion , and at Châtel-Saint-Denis.
Exploit
Updates, verified backups, certificates, monitoring, and the plan and tier reviewed at each renewal —whether they increase or decrease.
This is the part that determines the state of the system three years from now, and it's the part that's least discussed at the time of signing.
What Sets Us Apart, in Practical Terms
Why choose us for your phone service?
Choosing a partner— 3CX — in Switzerland means, first and foremost, choosing who will answer the phone at seven in the morning on the day of the switchover. And it also means choosing someone who can provide both types of answers: that’s the only position from which we can advise you on your specific challenges rather than on what we know how to sell.
We install 3CX and Microsoft Teams Phone
Two contrasting responses, both from the same team. It’s true—just ask us for references from both sides. A service provider who can only do one of the two will always say it’s yours.
Wireless, analog, gateways, porting
The part that causes projects to fail isn't the system—it's what's connected to it. We also install session controllers, professional wireless access points, and analog gateways, and we handle number porting.
Three branches in French-speaking Switzerland
Renens, Sion and Châtel-Saint-Denis. A phone system switchover is one of the few projects where someone has to be in the building that very morning: we’re there.
The server, the network, and hosting—all handled by the same team
A 3CX runs on a machine, behind a firewall, on a network connection. We also manage this part—including on Azure — which eliminates the traditional triangle between the telephony integrator, the IT manager, and the hosting provider.
3CX Gold Partner, engineers with advanced-level certification, and Microsoft Gold Partner for Teams telephony. We have also been authorized to provide staffing services since 2018: one of our engineers can join your team for a fixed term, rather than working remotely. See all our partnerships
Questions We Are Asked
Frequently Asked Questions.
The eight questions that come up on every first meeting, along with the answers we give in the office—even when they don't help close the sale.
3CX Is it really free?
There are free versions, and they do serve a purpose: trying out the software, training, or giving a demonstration. But they are limited—four simultaneous calls in the entry-level version, installation at your location only, and applications that do not support desk phones—and the publisher reserves the right to remove features without notice. For a business, the three commercial editions start at eight concurrent calls. Running a business phone system on a free license is an operational risk, not a cost savings.
Can I keep my phone numbers?
Yes. Your phone numbers belong to you and can be transferred from one carrier to another; this is an administrative process that we handle for you, and the timeframe depends on the outgoing carrier. This is the part of the project that needs to be started as early as possible, well before installation: it’s this step that determines the switchover date, not the technical aspects.
Should we buy desk phones?
Not necessarily, and it’s a real cost-saving measure. Many teams work very well with the desktop app and a headset. Phones are still useful at the front desk, in a workshop, in a meeting room, on a loading dock, or anywhere you can’t count on having a computer turned on. We provide cost estimates for both options, and we keep your existing phones if they’re compatible— which is often the case.
3CX Does it work with Microsoft Teams ?
Yes, through direct routing: your employees call from Teams, and 3CX manages the switchboard, call queues, and hardware. The setup requires AI edition, at least sixteen concurrent calls, a certificate from a Microsoft-recognized authority, a fixed public IP address, and an open port— as well as a Teams telephony license per user. It’s therefore a robust solution, though rarely the cheapest: it’s worth it when the reception desk and existing infrastructure are on-premises and everyone works in Teams .
Where will my data and call logs be stored?
Wherever you choose to deploy the system—the choice is yours: on your own premises, at a Swiss hosting provider, as part of your subscription Azure in a Swiss region, or hosted by the publisher. The latter option relies on major global platforms, and no Swiss region is listed: if the location of your data or your records is a concern—health, finance, public office, client contracts—choose one of the other three options. We’re telling you this up front, not afterward.
What happens if I don't renew my subscription?
The first consequence isn’t immediately apparent, and it’s the most serious: the system no longer receives security patches, system updates, phone firmware, or carrier profiles—which change when your carrier makes adjustments. A PBX exposed to the Internet without patches is a security risk, not a cost-saving measure. We specify in the offer what is covered for the year and what ends upon expiration, and we notify you in advance, not afterward.
How many simultaneous calls should we plan for?
There are no hard-and-fast rules, and be wary of anyone who claims otherwise: the ratio of stations to simultaneous calls can vary from one to ten between an engineering office and a customer service department. You can determine this from your own logs over a four- to six-week period, including internal calls. And you must also check the maximum number of extensions allowed by the target tier: it is this cap—more often than traffic volume—that forces you to move up a tier.
We already have 3CX, but our service provider is no longer keeping up. Are you taking it over again?
Yes, this is a common request and a well-defined process. We start with an assessment of the current state: the version currently in use and any patches received, how the system handles actual traffic, backups that can actually be restored, certificates, and the names under which the subscription and user accounts are registered —this is where things usually get stuck. Then we take over operations, using your access credentials under your name. Sometimes the assessment concludes that the installation is healthy and that only one configuration setting needs to be adjusted: we’ll let you know if that’s the case.
Further Reading
The pages that go along with this one.
Each one covers a part of the topic as a whole, rather than repeating it here.
Telephony on Microsoft Teams Phone
The four possible connections, the numbering scheme, session controllers, and why your choice of connection determines your freedom.
Read the page Beyond the LinesContact Centers
When a reception desk becomes a service hub: multi-channel queues, monitoring, and integration with customer records. This is where 3CX ends and a dedicated product begins.
Read the page The Starting PointMoving Away from an Older PBX
What is taken up again, what passes through a bridge, what is replaced—and the order in which we switch without cutting anyone off.
Read the page WirelessCommercial Kiosks
A workshop, a warehouse, a hospital, a school: wireless coverage can be tested before purchase, and it connects directly to the system.
Read the page About the SystemThe server, the network, and hosting
A software-based PBX runs on a machine, behind a firewall, on a link. Here's how we handle that part.
Read the page The EvidenceThey entrusted us with their phone service
Companies in French-speaking Switzerland, based on both responses. Ask us which ones best match your situation.
See referencesLet's start by counting
An hour with the engineers who will be doing the work, and the name of your current service provider. We’ll tell you which logs to gather, what to assess before any quote is issued, and which of the two options best fits your situation— even if the answer is to keep things the same this year.
Preparing the proposal is free; the traffic analysis and inventory are the first step in the project. We’re happy to arrange a meeting with the engineers who will be doing the work. Three offices: Renens, Sion, Châtel-Saint-Denis .
How many of your employees are on the phone at the same time on a Tuesday at eleven o'clock?
If you know the figure, your case is ready to go: we can provide cost estimates for both options within a few days.
If your answer is “I have no idea, ” that’s normal—almost no one knows—and that’s exactly where we start. Everything that follows depends on it: the funding tier, the edition, the price, and whether 3CX is the right choice for you.