I know training can be expensive and want to cut down on the cost if at all possible. Do online manuals exist for free so I can get familliar with the commands for the Avaya IP500 and other models? Panasonic is also a well known key system for the Vancouver BC Region so, may want to consider training for those models as well.

There aren't online manuals that exist that really tell you how to program an IP Office.

Those of us that install IP Office are authorized Avaya dealers and/or business partners and have taken the necessary training and tests required by Avaya. Yes, I didn't like shelling out $1500 to get one class, but that's how they run things. And it does protect our (Avaya BP) interests in the selling and servicing of the product.

Z-man, how would you rate the difficulty of the classes? How long were the classes for? What was the ROI for the cost of the classes?

I've never seen any information about IPO programming and I'm not sure why. In the past AT&T, Lucent and Avaya made documentation available but now nothing. I can only suggest greed because it's just another way for them to make money. It's certainly not because they are protecting their dealers- anybody with a credit card can purchase an IPO, though I have no idea how they get it to work. I do know that one grey market supplier will give you a free instructional DVD on programming with the purchase of an IPO from them. How complete and in-depth it is I have no idea. Some grey market vendors also have classes.

All I can say is that the lack of documentation for the IPO was a MAJOR reason I decided not to sell it. I always like to check out a product before I decide to sell it and I'm certainly not going to shell out $1,500 just to see if I like it.

I'm not familiar with Panasonic but I have found manuals for the current equipment I was looking for on line.

-Hal

Yeah, it's greed that keeps the knowledgebase going.....

Hal, what are you selling now?

The initial classes aren't that difficult. At the same time, they can't teach you everything. I myself have still had to use tech support and also lean on some of the more experienced IPO guys that live here. I think you learn stuff everyday on IPO.

As far as ROI...who knows. I will say I would not be in business right now had we not got back on the Avaya product line. We tried a another product once, almost buried us.

I don't think there is anybody there anymore that even knows what a manual is. But if they were to write one it would probably be about a foot thick with all the crap they have that thing doing. The Knowledgebase isn't any good for somebody looking for the basics or an overview of system programming.

I'm basically doing service for my existing customer base and considering winding down.

-Hal