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Centrex

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Introduction to Centrex
– Centrex is a type of telephone exchange that functions similarly to a PBX.
– It is provisioned with equipment owned by the telephone company.
– Centrex service was first installed in the early 1960s in New York’s financial district.
– As of 2003, there were approximately 20 million Centrex lines installed worldwide.
– Centrex accounted for about 5% of all installed business telephone lines globally.

Features of Centrex
– Direct inward dialing (DID) allows calls to be routed directly to an extension.
– Automatic routing of calls helps obtain the lowest cost for each call.
– Call pick-up groups enable users to answer calls for other extensions in their group.
– Call forwarding allows calls to be redirected to another number.
– Conference calling allows multiple parties to participate in a call.

Phasing out of Centrex
– In the United States, Centrex usage has declined from 16.5 million lines in 2002 to 10.7 million lines in 2008.
– Users are transitioning to IP-PBX through VoIP technology.
– Large institutions, government agencies, and universities still use Centrex due to pre-existing equipment.
– Leasing Centrex lines may be more expensive than other alternatives.
– Centrex continues to be utilized in specific industries and organizations.

Centrex Usage
– Centrex is a type of telephone exchange located at the telephone company premises.
– Centrex lines were most installed in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
– Centrex provides similar functions to a PBX but is located at the telephone company premises.

Additional Information
– Centrex is a portmanteau of central exchange.
– Centrex lines were most installed in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
– This article needs updating to reflect recent events or newly available information. Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrex

Centrex (Wikipedia)
This article is about the type of telephone exchange. For the British police training agency, see Centrex (police training agency). For the Gazprom-related group of companies, see Centrex Europe Energy & Gas AG.

Centrex is a portmanteau of central exchange, a kind of telephone exchange. It provides functions similar to a PBX, but is provisioned with equipment owned by, and located at, the telephone company premises.

Typical standard phone used with Centrex. Note the "Recall" button and the Message Waiting Lamp.

Centrex service was first installed in the early 1960s in New York's financial district by New York Telephone. As of 2003,[needs update] it was estimated that there were 20 million Centrex lines installed worldwide by 20 telephone companies, with the most installations in the United States (15 million), Canada (2 million), and the United Kingdom (1 million). This accounted for approximately 5% of all installed business telephone lines, worldwide.

In terms of user-visible features, Centrex and PBX are similar. Features include:

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