sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Am I making a mistake... VOIP???

Jbean said "Another, and frankly more important point, is the reputation and reliablility of the dealer who sells, installs and services your equipment. Your dealer is every bit as important as the equipment you select, so scrutinize this aspect at least as much as the equipment itself."

This is great advice. There is a variety of equipment that will suite your needs but the installer will be the one to make sure it is programmed to do that. Talk to a few, visit their current customers if possible and then make your choice based on the installing company that you choose recommendation.

You need a good local vendor look here

Why not contact whichever vendors you want and have them make an initial proposal? Then you can come back here and let everyone critique what they offer.

Seems like a better plan then shooting in the dark.

And like they said before, service is golden.

Thanks again,
I have two vendors now. The thing they must be is a Massachusetts State approved vendor. The two I am working with now, Carousel Industries for the Avaya and CXtech for the Nortel. Honestly I thought I was all set just deciding what system to use as both vendors checked out well. Then I had a question about my cable plant and there was some noise about an IP system... I was hoping for insight as to why that may not be my best solution. As an (shudder) "IT" guy of course IP was what I sought.
One thing I do know is I won't find out unless I ask and in the 20 some odd years I have been doing this stuff I am usually half right and the gotcha always hurts!
Thanks,
Bill

Bill,
As has been said, most systems will do this, but the vendors knowledge and reliability is golden.

If I was designing the system, I would have a system at every location that could function independent of any other location. But, they would be networked together for interoffice calls and transfer between nodes.

I would not recommend a system that relies on a remote site to receive incoming calls or to make outgoing calls. Having each system independent makes the whole phone "network" more reliable. In other words, if a T-1 goes down, or your wireless gets zapped by lightning, all of your attorneys and staff can still make and receive calls.

You said, The network for voice if I choose an IP solution will be separate from the data side and with the exception of a bridge between the two for unified messaging (future upgrade) will not be connected to each other. If that is the case, why would you consider a IP solution? A TDM system would be less expensive, more reliable and (for lack of better words) on a separate network.

BTW, the BCM and IP Office both have the ability to use digital sets and do IP networking. That may also help answer your cabling question. Of course, I'm partial to Vodavi.

Good luck!

-Larry

OK
I have asked for fresh quotes from my vendors based on the feedback I have received. The phone system will be basically digital with the use of IP where needed to fit my specifications. I found out yesterday that the T-1 for voice is called a PRI, somehow I knew that but did not remember. Thanks for your input I will let you know what I choose when all is said and done.
I must say this is a great resource and appreciate the courteous and profession manner that everyone has treated me and my questions.
Thanks,
Bill

See! We can be nice to IT people!

Good luck and please do keep us informed!

people refer to T1 as a pri but a true PRI has 23 b channels and 1 channel

I found out yesterday that the T-1 for voice is called a PRI,

You might want to do a little more home work on that one. T-1 can also be voice or a combination.
I will not get into it here since this is not what the thread is about.

Bill Kelly,

Did you look at ShoreTel, it seems a perfect fit for what you are trying to do and if you are planning on managing it yourself you can't go wrong.