sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information IP Systems

i'm getting more and more request for IP telephone phone systems. I'd much rather sell a Partner or Norstar but the customer wants IP telephony.

What systems have you used / tested? Which has your approval? Are they priced competitivly with regular systems or not?

How difficult are they to install for an experienced phone tech? I not certified but I am fairly fluent in networking, LANS, TCP/IP.

Does your customer want IP because they can make productive use of the technology or because it's "now and wow!"? In almost all cases, I'm finding my customers don't need IP. They ask about it, but when I explain what else they'll have to do to make use of a full IP system (cabling upgrades, switches, etc.), they back off and go with a good quality "normal" system.

I know this doesn't answer your question, but prompts one of my own: what are all you guys finding out there with respect to customers demanding IP systems?

as far as my cust base. the only ones who really benefit from ip/server based telecom-
munication systems are those who have remote
locations and already have up to date lan/wan implementation.

New installs work better. Trying to fit a existing LAN or convert a customer from a good working KEY system seem to upset them and us. Has to have QOS or you will be pointing fingers back and forth. I think they are still too new and have alot of shortcomings. If the customers expectations are clear and you do your home work, its plug and play.

I agree with all. IP phones are probably a good solution if you have a lot of remote sites or telecommuters. I can't see any IP system having an advantage over a standard Key or PBX system when you are talking about businesses that have one primary business location that houses all employees.

I've found that the reason they will go with the IP Solution is because it can be somewhat cheaper to intergarte a few phones over a wan that does not have a lot of traffic. We are able to network full blown phone system to work as one, but of course, that is more expensive especially if there is just a few phones. But, that depends on how deep the customer pockects are. The voice quality of an IP phone is just not quite there. Sort of like a cell phone call. All in all, a normal phone system, even if networked with another, is BEST.

Here is a good article on VOIP. They give a lot of good info. https://www.networkmagazine.com/shared/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=10818283

edited to fixed link



[This message has been edited by test-ok (edited July 18, 2003).]

Like gkar said, QOS is the real problem. Optimizing the flow of a larger network with VOIP on it is really difficult.

Your bandwidth has to be enourmous, your switches all have to be managed, and if you want to do it right, they need to have power over ethernet capability. _everything_ has to be on battery backup. Packet loss means a whole lot more than CRC and data errors, it means voice problems too...

I don't know, with more time it'll become a good thing. But I think for now, the two being seperate is the way to go.

I like being able to take a jumper, cross connect it, and be done with it. It's a lot more cut and dry. Then again, it would be nice to be able to plug a phone in and click a button and be done with it.

Who knows. More time though.

As far as rational usage...

I think that it's a lot less effort for remote sites. Imagine, setting up a point to point T1 or whatever solution you may use to connect your offices together... that's a pain in the ass. One point to point T1 for data and for voice would be great, without buying another switch. VPNs too... Call centers would certainly benefit from that. Being able to place their employees remotely... not a bad thing at all.

If you want a truely "OPEN" VoIP solution this is the best I have found you can use many different Phone Set from, Uniden, Polycom, etc. Also has built in Unified Messaging and other cool features.

https://www.bconvergent.com/

Oh, NO I don't work for these guys. Just they are local and I have met and touched the product. Half the price of PBX-Based IP solutions.

3com has a nice package for the small office with remote locations. And, the meridian phones will work with it. go figure. NBX-100