sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Panasonic Telephones & Systems VOIP

I would to get some opinions on VOIP, advanges, or disvanges. My customer is talking to someone about replacing existing double cabinet 1232 with a VOIP system. Being were not tieing two offices together and using an outside PRI I can't think of any advantages of going VOIP. I know it's the "flavor of the month" but with a Panasonic TDE using digital phones, I see nothing the VOIP has over the digital system.

Probable my biggest concern is I not sure I could go toe to toe with the IT person as to who has the problem, the network or the phone system. It's a lot easier talking to phone company from the RJ-21 as to whose has the problem. I know a lot more about phones than computers.

So, any experiences positive or negative would be appreciated.

Thanks

Ken

The biggest advantage is that it is the technology of choice for the manufactures moving forward. We are in transition right now, but in the future pure digital and converged digital will be a much smaller market, if at all. Similar to the transition from analog to digital in the late 90s.

Most customers with a single site gain little from VoIP other than it being the current technology and the one gaining the most investment from the manufacturers.

Steve

I agree with there is no point to ip in a single building. I have many mixed sites when more than one site. Digital on the main site and ip on remote

If there is a shortage of telephone/ network points then it is handy to have both on one point

The cost factor has to be looked at as well. You will need good quality Poe switchs for the phones

I would put in the system as digital and they have all the options of ip trunks etc if they wanted If you wanted ip without the it guy. Put the system on its own network

Panasonic is Voip.
Throw in a couple of those color screen IP phones for the Big Wigs. Unless they are going with Free PBX.
(LOL) :rofl: :rofl:

I'm afraid you are right. I suppose if I had my way I would rather be punching down 25 & 50 pair cables on a 4 X 8 sheet of plywood and installing a 1A2 key system. Oh, the good ole days. That's probable why my eyes & back or so bad; crouching under a desk, putting on amp connectors. I guess it's time to start learning this VOIP, it's going to be around awhile.

Thanks

There should be no way they could beat you on price you can re-use the TD sets with a TDE and still give them VoIP capabilities. The competition is going to have to replace all phones, and I'm assuming since it is a dual cabinet you have at least 32 extensions. Replacing 32 extensions is gonna cost them.

If all their computers are connected at 1gig if you don't re-cable for the IP phones and just plug from phone to computer most IP phones are only 100meg unless they spring for the more expensive IP phones.

The way I see it is if your phone is not likely to leave your desk why put in an IP set. Ask them how many times their network has gone down versus the phones. If they are pure IP then when the network is down so are the phones most of the time.

Cost may not be the major factor. Often people want to upgrade to current technology when they are spending money. It may cost them 50% more to buy new VoIP telephones instead of keeping their current digital sets, but if they perceive it as a better value for cost then they will go for it. Like it or not, VoIP is replacing digital at the desktop.

If I were you I would give them two quotes, one for digital re-using their phones, and another with VoIP telephones. If value is what they are looking for then they will go with a new system and old phones. If new technology is what they are desiring then they likely will not buy digital unless there is a reason, such as a gigabit network or a completely insufficient data network.

What is their reason for replacing the current system? If it is because they perceive it to be old/unreliable or old technology then quoting a digital system will likely loose the deal as they perceive the technology as old - even if it has new phones.

Just my .02c.

Steve

Yes take the plunge for a TDE600 its a awesome upgrade solution then bring in some ip stuff slowly later.