sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Small business system recommendations

After re-reading the original post, just a couple of side notes...

There are adapters available that can allow you to add MOH to non-central controlled telephones.

The at&t SYN248 is a hybrid that can utilize VoIP and POTS.

Since 2000, consumer and small business telephone equipment sporting the at&t logo has been produced by VTech.

For ease of use and self installation, if you want, I'd look into the XBlue X16. Has everything you're looking for.

Personally I'd still get it professionally installed, but self install is an option. Very user friendly little system.

I've seen that system, but I was worried about the quality. It LOOKS like its made from legos. But looks can be deceiving. Is this a decent system?

I've got several in and working for years, did have one KSU get hit by lightning, even with the protection on it, it blew. Not much you can do about that. There's a couple others on the board who've put them in also. I'm just up front with the customers about the limitations of the system, but in my opinion it's a good small business system.

Ok. It goes back on the list. Thanks!

The closest vendor I could find was over 4 hours away, and he wasn't too enthusiastic about helping me out given that he clearly wasn't going to make that drive and get the install job. Not saying there aren't others closer, but if they are out there, even he was unaware of them.

I am down to the XBlue X16 and the Transtel Lynx II. Both will do more than I need. On an aesthetic level, the Transtel simply looks more professional, but beyond that, both seem to be about equal.

If anyone has any just reason or cause why these two should not be installed, speak now or forever hold your peace.

XBlueNetworks.com has some how-to videos if you need to install it yourself.

I service digital systems out there that are 15-20 years old. They work, customers like them and for many small customers does the trick. Also, many of the digital/hybrid systems nowadays have the same features of a voip system (ie: SIP trunking, email notification) True, there are applications for voip out there, but its not the only game in town.

I would consider X-Blue's X-50 system which is just about everything you could need in a small phone system investment. Yes, it is a VoIP system, but it is amazingly simple to purchase and install. As long as you keep it simple, you should be OK with doing it yourself.

It does work with SIP trunking as well, so at least the investment will be protected in the even that your company ever decides to walk down that road.