sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Switch Upgrade//Seeking Feedback

We currently use the Comdial Impact FXS-003 phone system that utlizes Windows NT 4.0 OS, Quick Q, Keyvoice, etc.

Seeking an upgrade. We've been shown some upgrade options, namely the MP5000 system, which relates to us using our old cards in the new system. It sounds nice, bells and whistles, but a lot of it doesn't seem practical for us to fork out a fortune on.

Only problem is, it's based on the Win2k Professional OS, and ultimately, in two years, Microsoft will cease support of that OS.

Wondering if Comdial has any XP or server-based switch solutions?

What I am seeking is a workable, all-in-one phone switch package that is:

1. Server compliant because I'd like to be able to interface it from home using terminal services (Win2k pro doesn't have terminal services).

2. Again, an all-in-one unit. I don't like how Comdial phone systems have to have separate voice mail/Quick Q from the switch.

3. Rack mounted solution, definitely.

4. Something other than Quick Q for our tech support. I have found that over the past five years of using it, that Quick Q is somewhat a cumbersome and not that easy to manage package.

Also seeking Voice over IP solution as an option as well as a phone switch upgrade.

Any good recommendations? Of course, I am seeking something within budget. This current package with phones came to a six-figure tune and I don't want to go that route ever again.

Question, why do you want to go PC based? You know MS will outdate XP in a couple years then you will be in this cycle again. How big is your application?

What exactly is it your looking for in an upgrade? Looking to grow bigger? What bells and whistles are you wanting/missing?

As far as the Microsoft issue, eventaully all software is discontinued.

Some of the smaller systems have the "all in one" your looking for. But it sounds as though you are way to big of an organization for those systems. Just wouldnt be cost effect for Comdial/Avaya/Toshiba/etc. to develope such a system in a large scale, too many variables.

If you have a FXS system, then you already have an all in one system!! None of the manufacturers have moved up to Windows XP that I'm aware for any voice mail or other CTI applications requiring to run on an operating system. Have you seen anything in writing that Microsoft will discontinue support of W2K in two years?? What do you feel that you need Microsoft support for an operating system that has no problems in performing the CTI applications that Comdial engineers have painstakingly developed?? I have some FXS systems that I sold and installed with the Win95 OS and never have I once needed any Microsoft support. Matter of fact the very first FXS system sold in Dallas is still operating today as sold new with 8 ports of voice mail, Impact Group doing screen pops out of the customers financial database - all on Windows 95 !! Now to the Quick Q portion of your post, you must be at Rev 4 or if ya have an excellent vendor at Rev 5. How many agents do have running on the Q ?? The only thing ever cumbersome to come out of Quick Q is the end user or customer trying to do something or operate it in a manner that an ACD was not designed to do. Why would you administer anything from home for?? Have you ever heard of the program called VnC ?? Comdial does have rack mount solutions for all their current products, and if not the dealer can change over for you at a cost. The MP5000 is not only a traditional PBX switch, but VoIP and SIP compliant. As for keeping a low budget, stay with Comdial's MP5000, allowing you to continue using all current boards and phones and upgrade to the new Comdial ConverSip Contact Center which has more bells and whistles that you will ever want to blow or hear ringing !! Also locate a dealer that will give you all the product support and that is willing to spend the effort in setup and configuration of whatever you have. One final note let the telephone dealers (no matter what brand) service your needs no matter how much money you think you might be saving; I say this because I'm seeing frustration from you about the very best products on the market and it boils down to lack of proper programming and configuration.
I've been an exclusive Comdial technician and dealer for 18 years and helped the Comdial engineers develope the Quick Q ACD, the FXS Telephony Server, and Impact Group and Attendant.

My concerns are having a phone switch that uses a legacy OS that is due to die out in two years.

Why hasn't Comdial come up with a solution that will operate under XP yet, or is there something on the way? Why do they run a proprietary database? I've had this FXS-003 system now for five years, and believe me, it's had issues. One yet unresolved issue is where the voice operator says "I'm sorry, that was an invalid entry" at intermittent times when people dial in to the main number.

Other issues was the inexplicable database corruption of Quick Q that required a near all-day visit by a local tech who spent the majority of the day on the phone with a Comdial tech.

Accompany that with the never ending issue of the paging file increasing in size continuously where I have to reboot the system (I know, this is an inherent problem with Win NT 4.0) but after awhile it becomes just plain tiresome.

What gets me is why does Comdial have to build a switch with a separate voicemail system that is also accompanied with a large external black box for Quick Q?

I find the Comdial system bulky and problematic. Unfortunately for me I never got the opportunity to attend the Comdial school (because we aren't a vendor) so therefore I had to learn how to operate the switch on my own.

We might go for a voIP solution; just farming around to see what's out there.

I don't blame the Comdial sales or techs for supporting their product - but for me, it's just not an easy system to operate//too many variables when something goes wrong, IMO.

I think a good thing to ask is how big is your operation? What do you need to do or would like to do? Call Center? I deal with systems from a few phones to thousands. Application drives everything I do with phones. Is this going to be a throw away option or are you panning on keeping it as long as it remains current in technology?

I think that big black box you are referring to with the Quick Q is the Digital Voice Announcer (DVA). The DVA is a separate "system" not able to be integrated within the Quick Q. The Quick Q server application should be integrated within the FXS Telephony Server. If you have an FXS then your voicemail is within the telephone cabinet. If it is not, then you have an FXT which came out after the FXS. If you think the Comdial system is too cumberson and not easy to operate and too many variables, then try some others out there on the market. Let me know then how well you enjoyed the Comdial product. That's why it is so important to have a factory trained and certified technician to service all of that product. I'm personally certified on every application and system you have there and just my cost as a dealer for factory training is in excess of $12,000. The product and applications you have are way beyond the average technician !!

Hit the submit button too early, still have more to say. Come on guy don't tell me you have never had a hard drive crash or a database corrupt on any of your machines. And as a "Network Administrator" why are you not doing a constant backup of the Quick Q and voicemail hard drives to your server?? I have my customers network admin do daily backups. And let ask you about your car, do you go out and buy a new one every year just because there is a new model that just came out?? Why do you feel these applications need to run on XP?? Like I said in my first post if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And about the proprietary database, does Microsoft give you the open source code to go in and modify or use to your liking? No, if they did then you would have something else to write about. For the 5 years of problems you say you've encountered probably is inherent to the lack of and incorrect configuration and programming on whoever's level. That "I'm sorry that is an invalid entry" is associated with the incorrect timing parameters of the voicemail and a good tech would recognize and fix that in a heartbeat. And for your concerns of having a phone switch using legacy OS that is about to die out in 2 years -- The Phone Switch Does Not Operate On Windows Operating System !! The voicemail and Quick Q are applications on the Windows operating system. Also go in and increase your paging file size within NT and if the hard drive isn't big enough put in a bigger one to handle up to 4096 KB and you'll resolve that issue.

That's because you are not a Certified tech on the products. You need the right "tool" for the Job. That's why I never try to tune up my Vette. I'm a phone guy, not a mechanic.
mark

Correct me if I am wrong but the last Call Mangler from Crisco that I saw implemented was running Win 2000 also. I heard they were proposing to rewrite the code for Unix support to avoid Windows viruses. That's going forward.LOL. By the way I'll bet 95% of the new base voicemails going in are DOS apps. I sell several lines and have yet to see an XP platform vmail. New is not always better. The Chevy V8 was introduced in 1955 and is still produced today because IT WORKS. The Invalid entry issue is a trans.txt error from faulty programming and easy to fix.