atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX VoIP & Cloud Phones, Hosted PBX, General IP Phones pbxtra

has anyone hear of the voip pbxtra and how well does it work thanks

I have heard of them. I havent seen it first hand but their features look very impressive, cost is great and the reviews have been fabulous.

I checked it out on some websites, it looks OK for small businesses. Honestly though, any system that is making the claim of being truely plug and play...well, I know they have their place in the market with the guy that has a few phones in their small office or house, but in a real world business application they do not hold up. Further, any system that claims to be set up "in minutes by the web portal" I have doubts about. In a real PBX there are so many variables to think about, so many different things that they are capable of. I am not saying that this is not a capable system, but to compare it to a true PBX, or even a capable Key system, is folly, IMHO.

Bizfone uses the same claims of plug and play and we all know how they turned out. It is not a terrible system, and it does have its place, but it does not compare to a Key system that costs even $100 more. I could be wrong, but this looks like another flash in the pan fly by night system that is just hopping on the IP system band wagon.

As always, you get what you pay for. It looks like this sytem with 8 phones costs about $2275 on the cheap side with Aastra's low-end IP phone and up to $3771 equiped with Cisco IP phones - all un-installed. That is cheap, but not much cheaper than a similarily equipped digital Key system that will probobly do more AND come with 30btn telephones, a on site warranty, and installation. The PBXtra comes with a one year off site warranty, most key systems come with at least 2 years (often up to 5 years) of parts warranty and one year on site labor warranty.

In conclusion, I am ALWAYS wary of systems that are claiming to be user installable AND have the same capabilities as a true PBX. The combination has never, and I highly doubt will ever, come into truth; but I can always be wrong. Compare it to a key system with greater features (not to mention warranties) and it is much less attractive. To me it is targeting the "well, I can do it myself and save $400" guy. As we all know, these customers rarely, if ever, get ahead in the end.

Steve

Asterisk@home became Trixbox and was acquired by Fonality the seller of PBXtra. I actually found a business using this box and it's got similar hardware to my home built Asterisk system. Really not a bad solution for a small business. Personally I prefer the home built system as it's cheaper and took the home office to a whole other level. In my opinon if the hardware improves, Asterisk will blow away any proprietary system. Oh and I love the fact that I can use 1A2 phones with this rig.

That's what I hear! But, I've been hearing it for over 3 years now. :rolleyes:

Asterisk is nice but I don't see it replacing the standard phone system it is a great add on. Just like Linux is a better OS then any MS product but the world is based around MS so Linux may never make it to be the main OS.

The reviews are always great. Just like car mags, they never met a car they don't like.
guess who pays the bills.

It really is plug and play! Our office just purchased a PBextra (the $995 version) and it rocks. After struggling for years with a standard PBX by Samsung and a hardwired telephone system, this thing blows it out of the water. No more calls for support or rewiring to our local communications company. The web interface allowed me to program it in about 40 min. I just went to Radio Shack and purchased some 100 foot telephone wire and ran it directly into the orange box RJ??... something or other supported by the phone company. There is a next day on-site warranty for the HP box they sell. I hate to say it, but I think it may put some people out of jobs and business if it catches on. I'll repost later and let you know if it craps out. I just installed it yesterday and we pushed it to the limits today with calls.

Collier, I really don't think that this is the place you want to be posting messages like yours. Most of the staff and members here are telecom professionals who are highly offended when we hear "do it yourself" stories. We have worked years to learn this industry and to use proper terminology. For some Johnny Come Lately computer-based application to come along and threaten careers, you bet we are offended.

Next day, on-site warranty? We already provide same day, two hour warranty service to our customers. Can your business go an entire business day (or more) without phones? Everybody thinks that they can until it actually happens.

Radio Shack 100 foot wire. I shudder to think of how this installation looks. Oh and by the way, don't count on the telco to help you with line issues either. You might think that you are "eliminating" the telephone technician, but in the end, you'll actually be making work for them.

" Oh and I love the fact that I can use 1A2 phones with this rig."
How wonderful!!! I'm going to order up some Plenum
25 and 50 pair pronto. Got any other lunacy you would like to share???


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What happens when the hard drive fails. You see places every day with no server backup. tell me that will backup thier phones!!!