**wow sorry just noticed how old this thread is
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If I were in your shoes I would also factor in the odds of which manufacturer has staying power.
I'd buy only from a diversified products manufacturer. Cisco, Samsung, NEC, Panasonic, Toshiba, etc fill that description.
The chances are these companies being around in five years is much higher than a company that primarily sells phone systems only, ie, Shoretel, Mitel, Tadiran, etc.
This is coming from 27 years experience selling phone systems and watching manufacturers come and go. When they go, often times the buyers are stuck in the mud.
