We are days away from installing our new IPK II system (upgrading from previous NEC equipment). We outsource our network and servers to a local company who had also installed an IPK II system a few months ago. When we were getting their insights on their IPK, they mentioned that they are considering offering VOIP to their network clients as an additional service. However, they say that when they do that (in 18 months or so depending on internal research, etc.) they will drop the IPK II and go with a Cisco ACD phone system.
They offered informally to let us be one of their first VOIP customers for a discount (read guinea pigs). If we agree to it, then they may move up their schedule somewhat.
I have a couple of questions:
1) Do any of you have experience using VOIP on IPK II and how good/bad is the IPK II at handling VOIP? We may consider using VOIP independently (via phone company) if the IPK II system would handle it.
2) I have read several articles about VOIP not being really ready for prime time yet (dropped calls, distortion due to lost packets, etc.). I have heard a few local stories about similar experiences. Do you have any experience as to the quality of VOIP and if it really is ready for prime time or not on a corporate level?
I work for a small company that is almost totally dependent on having 24/7 phone availability. Plus, I am confident that if we start dropping calls or have bad quality connections during customer calls, our customers will start to drop us as well.
We would be 18 or so months away from a potential shift to VOIP and it would all revolve around how we could provide top-notch phone service to our customers while reducing operating costs (I'm sure no one has experience with that one
).
Thanks for any insight or experience you may provide.
mp
