sundance-communications.com Forums Computer Internet Hosted PBX, VoIP & Asterisk E-MetroTel

Okay, I'm seriously looking at this system. It's pricey, but it knows Panasonic and Nortel phones. The concept is scary, so I'm wondering if anyone, notably Canada installers, have experience with the system.

Carl

I know of 3 companies here in Alberta using it - I'd be happy to put you in touch with 1 or 2 of them if you'd like to chat :-)

Is that only in Canada? Never heard of them.

I think they're based out of Texas. The system is supposed to be compatible with Nortel, Avaya, & Panasonic digital handsets. It's designed to be run on a BCM 50 chassis, but can be installed on other server hardware too.

Not limited to Canada as far as I know...

My online meeting with them is next week. They don't have dealer "quotas", but you need to buy a demo system. Perhaps I can sell my SL-2100 to finance my demo :-)

Their solution is a premise based box for small customers, a larger system that allows remote phones and recording, and a cloud based system. My supplier, Teledynamics, has had them for about a year, but not advertised. Tdy and E-metrotel are both based in TX although about 200 miles apart (Just a fur piece to a Texan!)

I'm hoping to chat with a dealer, although for the price of a demo kit, it might be worth investing in the system. It will keep the Panasonic and Nortel systems from becoming obsolete and give customers VoIP services to their old electronic systems without a forklift upgrade. Kinda like the Mitel SX-50 properties I work with now. If the remote maintenance access is good, it would be another tool in the shed for next year.

I would think they would need Avaya, Nortel IP Phones in place already.i have found when upgrading most want new newer technology Phones.
Please keep us updated
Thanks
Ken

Yeah, it doesn't have the sizzle I expected. My first full-fledged 100% IP system was the Grandstream UCM with 2160 phones. It's been playing for about 6 years and it does what the customer needs. After the initial cost, it has cost the customer $ZERO in ongoing maintenance, but all the phones are on-premise.

To duplicate that with a Galaxy Mini, with only 3 types of phones, plain display, and minus the ability to have BLF's for all the phones, would cost about 40% more and then the Annual license fee. I didn't even think to ask about the two cordless phones.

I think I'll query my existing customer base to see if there are any plans to upgrade systems. I do have a small, really small, customer sitting on a Comdial dxp that would seriously benefit from this system...but so would they benefit from a hosted solution. That might be my next research project.

Carl

I've got a few of these going. Canadian distributor is NSI.
So far they are pretty good. I use Shaw Sip trunks with them. If the folks don't need the softphone, the mini is a decent option with 25 standard extensions included and the support fee is tiny for the level of support they actually provide. To be honest, it's the support that will keep me using them. They are expensive compared to Grandstream or Yeastar but still less than a mitel. The bigger 250 gets really pricey with the licensing, Especially if you want SIP device compatibility. I have yet to do an install with existing nortel handsets, but have a few customers where re-wiring for VOIP would be a major cost and hassle so likely will before long.

-B