sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information we need to buy a new phone system

Talkswitch has a Basic System, Inexpensive, VM,Auto Attendant, Email Notify.

The technology for the Avaya Partner is based in the '80s, very basic but it has been upgraded over time to do just about everything and the VM can do what you want.

Why don't you plan on who will install the system and let them help you with a used system. There are many older systems that still have useful service but they will not do you any good if you can't get it installed properly.

Jesse, several folks on here have suggested that your buy your phone system from an authorized dealer, and I would just like to add my two cents two that. Yes, there are good deals on eBay, but there is also a lot of damaged junk being sold. I'm sure you are discerning enough to tell the difference, but there are other advantages to purchasing from a dealer that may not be immediately apparent.

We are not a dealer for any brand of system, instead our business is limited to cabling system troubleshooting and repair. Nevertheless, at least once a week we get a call from someone telling us they purchased a phone system (on eBay or elesewhere), and wanting to know when we can "hook it up" for them. My answer to them is always the same: Please call a local dealer that specializes in that brand of system and talk to them. The caller seldom understands, because in their mind all that should be necessary to install their "new" phones is some cable and some jacks. I patiently explain to them that properly installing and supporting any modern electronic phone system can entail programming, software patches and upgrades, replacement parts (if needed) and upgrades/additions, and also end user training. Yes, these things may be available to anyone if they look in the right place, but this will almost invariably involve waiting - not always the best option for a phone system that you depend on to operate your business. Only an authorized dealer can provide these things with the speed and level of certainty that most business people have every right to expect.

Here is a story that illustrates this: I have a customer with a Comdial system that they purchased from a local Comdial dealer. One morning there was a little mishap in their shop involving a huge steel shelving unit, and a wall-mounted phone wound up "taking one for the team." Amazingly, it still worked, but the display (and case) was cracked. They called their dealer, and a new phone was on the wall before lunch time! On rare occasions when they need a replacement part like a handset cord, they usually recieve it the same day they call. This is because the dealer has these things in stock, and they are located right down the road.

By the way, the model name of the phone that took the hit is called "Impact." I still get a chuckle from this...

Jim
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Speaking from a secure undisclosed location.

thanks for all of the responses.

Rickman, I took a look at those Talkswitch systems and that seems to fix exactly what we need... thanks a lot for the guidance.

Good Luck
:thumb:

Dont forget Marc Lakeland is as close to Clearwater as Sarasota. And Clearwater is our regular service area.

PM Sent to the OP

Jesse:
I hope everyone takes this the right way but I have a problem with some things here. I think the advice, so far, is fine (I’m not a big fan of the TalkSwitch yet, however) but I have some questions and statements.

1. You have a 15 year old system that is one of the most solid, good looking and useful systems ever made. IMHO. According to your original statement, you need 4 analog lines, 6 handsets---which the Flex does easily and then you need a voicemail. That’s where the Flex really falls down. It wasn’t designed to work with a voicemail. It also wasn’t designed for Caller ID, but you don’t request that. How can you live without CallerID these days?? However, the system provides a great speed dial system, one touch speed dials, speaker phone, transfer, intercom, BLF/DSS on every phone if you have the Executive phones, etc, etc, etc---this system really has a lot of features---are you really sure that you won’t be missing some things here that you take for granted---or do you, even after 15 years, don’t know how to program the speed dials or the one touch flex buttons?? Just asking.
2. If you bought another line, and had them provisioned right, and programmed the system right, you’d have a direct line for every phone---then get your provider to set up voicemail boxes for every line---and you would have what you would want. You could have call forwarding on your lines, set them to CF to your cell phone and then you have that. Whatever. My point is you don’t have to get a new/used/refurbished simple system just to get what you want. It's certainly a cleaner way to do it with on-site equipment---but it doesn't HAVE to be done that way.
3. I took a look at your website and the products that you sell. You seem like very technically oriented people. You sell to technical people. Why would you not install a state of the art system that would give you MORE—not less??
4. We have unified messaging (voice mails are also sent to Outlook as a .wav file). Before we had it, I did fine---but I love it to death, now. I love the caller ID reports that I can look up on my laptop to see who called, who left messages, how long people talked, and on and on. I could live without it, but my business is better with it. It brings a new facet to my communication system. I love the ease of programming that we have. I love the Telephone/Computer integration that lets me dial from my laptop, from a list of 250 special customers. I love the redial. I love the Caller ID look up. I love the quality of the speaker phones. I love my little IP cordless with a great range and great sound. But you guys don’t even want Caller ID. I just don’t get it.
If this offends anyone, please forgive me---but this is the way I feel. With so much technology just sitting there for you, and great vendors as your nearby neighbors---why would anyone go on E-bay for a purchase as important as this?? I know you have a 13 page EBay store, but this isn’t really about money—is it?? With this size of a system, a new system with a good vendor and a great installation & programming---the cost just wouldn't be that much. A cost of a refurbed server is probably more. JMHO

It is possible to install a Vodavi Dispatch voicemail on these systems. I have done it. If voicemail and cell phone transfer is really all that you want to add, just add it. It takes a couple starplus analog adapters and works best when you put DSS buttons for each voice mail port onto all the phones. There is no in-band integration but when you have a message, the message light can be made to light and if you want to check for messages when it is not lit, you simply press one of the DSS buttons and when it answers, you dial your mailbox followed by a single key action digit and then input your password. A little creative command file programmming can even allow your cell phone to be called should a caller dial "0" during your personal greeting. I even make it dial using the phone number that is easily entered by each mailbox owner in their outside notification field. If this is all you want, just add it to this system. However, with all that being said, RWRacedog's opinion is sound. There may be some new features that once used and enjoyed could become as one with you as those wireless headsets many of us use and find still on our heads after we have left the office.

Sorry to stick my nose in again, but I just wanted to say that the last two posts perfectly illustrate my point - I would not have the faintest clue how to set up any of the things they were talking about... Which is why I tell people to call a real phone system vendor.

Also please keep in my mind that the content of these threads is as much for visitors to this site as it is for the original posters. I'm not trying to "lecture" the OP, just siezing the chance to climb up on my soapbox.

Jim
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Speaking from a secure undisclosed location.