atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information WTB new phone system

Panasonic TDA has the best wireless solution of any system I know of, main points being coverage, ease use (ie- buttons for functions instead of complicated codes) and a low price point for the components. Easy admin, IP options, PC console for recption. Stable software, does not need to be shut down for regular maintenence.
The wireless could be cell station based or just use the basic system cordless 7896, depending on the size and construction of the structure.
Either way the ease of use is tops.
If there is no Quality dealer in your area--
Forget about it!
As for self programming-- many systems now have extensive user programming. Have put in many computer based systems that boast self admin, and still get lots of calls for help. yes the end user can do it , but after the initial setup may not use for months and then can,t remember how, or get lost as to how to acomplish a task. A good dealer will be able to swap extensions and make any change right down to a speed dial button on any phone remotly
for much less than on site service. The only reason for on site visit would be to install new wire or other hardware or annual maint checkup.
Sorry, here,s the soapbox back>>

Nortel makes a quality product and they are everywhere, same with Avaya. I'm not going to degrade either one of them but I would like to throw out this analogy:

In the mid 70's everywhere you looked you saw General Motors and Ford autos rollin down the road. Occasionally you would see a Datsun or a Toyota.

In my opinion Nortel & Avaya are good products but not the best just because they are in every Walgreens.

John

For ease of use, dependability, quality, and availability, I would go Nortel. They seem to have stepped forward and really taken the small to mid-size business' in mind, especially the last few years. As much as I love Avaya, they seem to have abandoned the smaller systems to focus on large PBX apps. But I agree, the bottom line is dealers and support. Also, there isn't any coding in phone systems. They all have proprietary programming. Some can use a Windows GUI interface or web browser interface to do admin programming, but you don't actually write any of your own code.

You might want to look at the NEC Aspire series. It has everything and can expand to a pretty good sized system. They have a really nice wireless setup as well as micro-cell and the whole thing can be programmed from a web browser. NEC leads all others in these size systems for market share.

I guess we'll be shopping for a good dealer, then.
So far all the ones I've encountered seem to also be sales-people.
I've seen websites that take your information, what you need, and sell your phone-number to companies who then fax or email you quotes without ever coming in contact with you as a person. It's insanely aggravating.
Should I grab the yellow pages and look up companies, what should I do?

Laura, if they won't come visit with yoou in person then your better off finding someone who will. There is nothing wrong with the yellow pages but bear in mind that those of us on this side of the fence get our share of "tire kickers" that have no intention of putting good quality equipment in their business. I know for a fact that ESI can send a qualified reseller to see you and the same is probably true for Samsung-Vodavi-Yada-Yada-Yada. Since ESI has been mentioned here is how to get the ball rolling.

https://www.esi-estech.com/about/

Stay in touch with us till your decision is made. We are very good at weeding out sales baloney.

John

my boss added cell-phone integration to the list of "cool things it could do"
he'd like to be able to have a cell-phone integrated into a base, so that if a call comes in it'll go to the phone or the cell, depending on whether you're at your desk or not
I believe I've seen this in some movies, and it requires a cell-phone charger-type thing that connects to your phone -- not sure, though!
any thoughts?

the cell integration would be something to talk to the vendor about , there was a product out that I thought would go well I bought one took it around and demonstrated it to clients I thought would benefit , no one shared my enthusiasm so I wound up using it here until I changed cell phones (it only worked on certain phones )

that plus radio shack was selling them for less than I was paying .

a google search brought this up

https://www.cordlessworkz.com/index...195&gclid=CIaFra_7hYoCFQK8SgodeXvZLQ

integration is something for your vendor

The cell systems we are speaking of are part of the phone system, meaning you have a cordless phone that
works just like your desk phone, not your personal
Cell phone.
Panasonic and others have Personal Cell phone twinning, where your personal cell rings at the same time as your regular extension whether your cell is on premis or in another state.
What skip555 brought up is a device that you plug your personal cell phone into when you get to your office, most of them are connected to outside or inside antennas for best recption in your building. These units plug into your phone system as an outside CO line.
Therefore if your personal cell was put in as line 10, then your personal cell calls could be answered by any phone that was set to ring for line 10, and you could pick up the call at any phone on your system.
Twinning the Personal cell is easier but requires 2 lines and works best with digital lines (T1 or PRI) But if your personal cell does not work well in your building you would need a repeater for increased signal.

Steering clear of a lot of the questions and coments: Cell phone integration. There are several things this couuld mean to us.

1. "I want my cell to ring at the same time as my desk phone and when I answer it at eitehr one I want it to stop ringing on the other. Also, I would like to be able to transfer callers back to other telephones in the office."

2."I want my cell to ring if I forward my phone."

3."I want my system to call me if I recieve voicemail messages."

Answers:
1. Several systems do this. Tadiran includes it in their IPX systems standard. Mitel also has it, but it costs extra. Other manufactureres also probobly can do this, but those are the ones I know. It also does not matter what cell service you have.

2. Basically any system can do this. However, once the call is on the cell phone it is stuck there (IE, you cannot transfer it back to the office).

3. Almost any voicemail system can do this now.


Steve