I am new to the phone system world. The phone systems at work have been added to my plate of thing to do. I have been asked to look at replace our current system. Let me give you guys dome info.

We have 2 locations one in Georgia (about 80 phones) and one in Kentucky (about 35 phones). We are connected via two point to point T1 lines. We want the offices to appear as one office to the customers that call. One seamless phone systems what we want to accomplish.

We are a small company but we need a comprehensive contact center solution (web chat, email management, ACD, Faxing, call back, etc...) Price is important but not the driving factor. Quality, reliability, functionality, and ease of management are most important. After doing a little research I do not think I want a totally VOIP solution. I do want to use VOIP to connect the two offices.

Here are the systems I have looked at Avaya Ip Office, Mitel 3300, Siemens, Inter-tel, and Cisco. I have recently spoken to someone about the Sprint Ipx system. I would like to look into the telrad system.

I do not want to start a battle on the form of who has the best system. I am looking for a resource that can point me in the right direction to make a decision that the company will have to live with for a long time. Does any one have any suggestions on a good vendor to work with in the Atlanta area and what products they sell?

Thanks for the info.

Sprint IPX is a great system BTW and wins longevity hands down. Great list of systems there. IMHO Cisco say they can do more than they can. You have a great list there minus Cisco (not horrible but not in the league of the other systems you listed). I think you are well on your way. A good vendor will educate you about what you need, why and expectations. I would simply say bleeding edge is not always the way to go. You will want a system that can grow with you without a zillion software updates. Be careful of getting buried on the "back end" of a deal. Find out what labor rates are after the install. Check references thouroughly and really consider visiting some sites where these systems are functioning. IMHO IP enabled pbx are the way to go. They don't force you to go ip or be damned or TDM or be damned. Good luck feel free to ask questions here!


[This message has been edited by Coral Tech (edited January 01, 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Coral Tech (edited January 01, 2005).]

Call 706-368-9774 ask for Stephen or 303-668-5150 Jen.

Thanks for the info.
I am leaning toward an IP enabled PBX, which will throw out the Cisco and the Mitel 3300. In reviewing the Avaya IP Office I do not feel that we will get the seamless integration that we are looking for in the Contact center solution. I am sure that one of Avaya's products will accomplish this. I need to do a little more research.
I work in the IT world and I am not comfortable placing my voice and data together. I feel that voice needs to be extremely stable.
Any suggestions on a Telrad dealer and Sprint dealer in Atlanta area? The Sprint dealer I spoke with was in Kentucky. The heart of the system will be in the Atlanta area and I am not sure if I want a Kentucky dealer handling the deal. The Kentucky dealer did seem to be knowledgeable. Is this a correct assumption or should I forget this worry? Any suggestions on particular questions I should use to qualify a vendor?

Thanks

Forgot to ask - What about the financial stability of Tadiran and Telrad? I would hate to buy a system and the manufacture goes under two years down the road. I am hoping to buy a system that will be in place for several years.

Do not forget the Inter-tel line, tho pricie, they do have a totally seamless system, and have offices in both states that will work together to benefit you. There newer version will even allow ACD groups to be off different nodes. Give them a chance before making your final choice.

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Voice and Data Cabling in DFW, [email protected]
https://www.dnrcomm.com

You should see if they have a local arm that can service you. I mean we cover 3 states and sometimes we send tech out of these 3 states for an install or upgrade then use local dealers if we need to. The only thing I have to say about Avaya, while a good solid product, READ THE CONTRACT VERY CAREFULLY. With their contracts you almost need a damn attorny to make sure you don't get burned at the stake. Look at what is offered for maintenance as well. This is another "back end" deal I was talking about.

ronorr, they aren't going anywhere. Sprint would not have picked them otherwise over all the others. This is usually the card trick I have seen other companies pull when they try and scare a customer. Fact is Tadiran is more fiscally solvent than probably most the other competition. They are actaully part of a bigger corp that one part is second only to DeBers in the diamond business. Sprint will also give you a support letter as well...I don't think they are going anywhere. Avaya has HUGE mony problems but they aren't going anywhere either..they may change their name again...but they aren'y leaving.

I am impressed with the Toshiba CTX100 for a small/medium sized business like yours.

I have 20+ years experience in telecommunications industry. There are (at least) 3 things you must consider when buying a communications system, besides the quality and reliabilty of the product.
1. You get what you pay for..
2. The system will work only as good as the installers. No matter how great a system is, there are many inexperienced techs out there who can make or break it. Some systems only use AUTHORIZED and CERTIFIED techs. Others use trainees who learn on YOUR system.
3. Support- after your system is installed, it will need maintenance. As stated above, trained techs mean a lot. Another BIG factor is having a dedicated team of experts who are familiar with YOUR system layout and setup, as well as knowing the system. Techs have to be familiar with your needs and procedures in order to meet them.

You should also take a look at the Nortel BCM this is a very nice package all in one box with both RAID and redundant power supplies. I agree with Coral beware of Avaya, the IP Office needs a separate server for each application you run.

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One stop Voice and Data Solutions VoIP

My two cents: If you cannot find certified dealers near both locations that can easily and quickly service both locations, look at another product.
I would personally lean toward the Intertel and Norstar BCM solutions, but only because those are the ones that I am familiar with.
Intertel is admittedly quite pricey for the size of your application.
Find a good vendor. Find a good vendor. Find a good vendor.
I could go on with that for about 500 pages.
Any one of the systems that you are looking at (except Avaya IP office, and please drop the Cisco from the list) should work well for you as long as they are properly installed and supported. If you like Avaya, take a look at the other products that they offer instead of the IP office.

Why don't you look at the Samsung iDCS 500 with networking.
Email me if you are interested in this product.
Larry

have you guys heard of Iwatsu? If so what are your thoughts and opions?

Thanks

I have been involved with Iwatsu since 1983. Solid product but has its limitations. I am not a current distributor but did like the product and support while I worked for a different company. Name recognition and a small dealer network are some negatives. I still service some Omega systems installed in the late 80's.

you might want to check into the Vodavi XTS series very sweet system very user friendly and seemless IP networking functionality.

I am very curious to know what problems you guys have with Cisco. Years ago, I worked with the Cisco VOIP development team on their early Call Manager for large business solutions.

Although they were really inexperienced on the voice side, they seemed to be light years ahead of everyone else on the data side, as they make most user's data networks. They have the data hardware and the talent to support it.

Feel free to send me an email re Cisco VOIP, if the response is in the realm of a putdown.

Problems with the Call Mangler? Really? I have yet to talk to one customer whom after implementing Cisco was thrilled with the outcome. One recent installation of 120 phones said that Support sucked, voice quality issues, slow response to change needs,etc. One guy I know was an AVVID dealer and quit because he had to constantly reset his office system daily. Most VAR's tell me they make 1% on the hardware and try to make it up on labor and service. No thanks.

With the applications you're referring to you may also want to broaden your search to include software-based PBXs like Artisoft TeleVantage & Interactive Intelligence Customer Interaction Center.


I can refer you to Atlanta-based dealers of Intertel, Mitel, Sprint, Cisco, Telrad and the others I've mentioned. Feel free to give me a buzz (770) 455-0098 x100 or an email anytime ([email protected]).

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Stephen Joyce, Terminal Solutions, Inc.
www.tsinc.com sjoyce@tsinc.com

the iwatsu adix with campus networking would definately work

this is actually 2 separate systems operating as one connected by a T1, which also gives you redundancy on the remote switch, so if the T1 goes down for any reason, the remote system can still operate on it's own. then when the T comes back up, it automatically detects it and reverts back to the networking

have fun
rich

Hi,

My name is Maureen Sikes and I ma with a company called MIS Associates, Inc.
We service, sell and install Mitel equipment.
There are so many different ways that you can go and it can be very confusing.

Here would be some of the questions to look at .....first.....versus...."what" type of system.

#1 What type of lan/wan do we have or looking to put into place in the future?

#2 How many calls are going thru the main office and other places?

#3 How does voice mail serve everyone. Are we happy with voice mail or do we want unified.....what exactly would we want unified to do for us?

#4 Wireless....do we want to be mobile?

since you have offices in different states....you can take advantage of being able to ....place a call....and let's say you wanted it to come out of your local switch in Kentucky so that it would pick up a line there and not cost you anything calling from Atlanta. You can save a good deal setting it up this way.
As you grow and add .....offices....remotely or home offices. Mitel has a product called the Teleworker which I am sure that you have seen.

I think the differences is who has been playing inthe VOIP arena and what have they been doing successfully.
Mitel was way ahead almost 3 years of everyone else.

VOIP has been around for at least that lond and now the new thing is SIP.

Now have I totally confused you:}

If you have the time please feel free to call me and we can talk real time.

770-729-3406

You are doing the right thing by doing the research ahead and giving yourself enough time to make the right decision.
You mentioned that this has just been put on your plate. Allow me to take it off yours and put it on mine!!!

Looking forward to talking with you

Good luck

Maureen, they have probably already made decision since this was posted on January, 1, 2005

The Samsung iDCS 500 is great for networking.

It can do a lot more than the Inter-tec for far less cost and its about the most reliable system on the market today.

LOL...and the hits keep coming.

couldnt resist.......

Count me in!

That VOIP thing may be cool and all, but for me all I want is 2 cans, a long string and a bucket of dialtone.

TransTel Communications makes a real nice system TDS-600 series
3 year warranty. Many features and flexable programming. I've been in business over 30 years this is the best telephone equipment I work with.

https://transtelcommunications.com/

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Merritt
Commercial Communications
1-800-244-3033

News a little slow in Maine? This is a 9 month old message.

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Business Phone Systems

Another! This is funny as hell.

There is a great system you shuld check out:
Sun Moon Star digital. It may not have a big name but you can have ringtones that croak like frog or scream like an eagle etc.. 50 in all.
I mean whats life if your phone don't croak???

lol