"Crap" is right! We are going from an NEC system to "something else". The NEC PBX has been rock solid, but the call distribution system needs substantial improvements to make it all the way up to the "crap" level!
Our main HQ went with Avaya and insisted we do the same. We went to an Avaya rep for an all-day show-and-tell, and things looked pretty impressive. THEN we asked about call distribution systems and the management thereof. Well, it almost seems as if Avaya out-sourced that to NEC - we RAN out of that place! We are going with an all software system from an Indianapolis company, Interactive Intelligence Incorporated (http://www.inin.com). They've given some dog-and-pony shows that were too impressive to ignore. I can let you know how it works out in a couple of months - cut-over is scheduled for 14-JUL. -------------------------------------- Richard McClary, Systems Administrator ASPCA Knowledge Management 1717 S Philo Rd, Ste 36, Urbana, IL 61802 217-337-9761 http://www.aspca.org "Tim Evans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on 05/28/2008 09:41:25 AM: > One thing to keep in mind is that a large part of the cost of a PBX > system is in the licensing. Already having a Mitel system means that > they would be able to sell you upgrade licenses where anyone else > would have to sell you a new license. That may or may not work for > you. We currently have a RFP out and, based on preliminary budget > pricing the vendors gave is, Avaya (our current PBX) is running > about the same cost as the ShoreTel system. All I need to decide now > is if the extra crap that comes with the Avaya system is worth it. > > …Tim > > From: Chyka, Robert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:50 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: VOIP Vendor Question... > > I hear you on the complexity of the question. > > Right now we have 2 sites. Our largest site, 400 phones is still on > an old school Mitel PBX (this is the one we need to replace soon) > our other site has a 90 phone call manager 5.1 install. It is all > flat calling. Routing is pretty normal. We can do QOS. They are > saying they don’t want to make the decision based upon budget. We > will be managing it in house. Our cisco infrastructure is 80% POE. > The pres also said not to take into consideration that our remote > site is call manager. (our PBX vendor is nervous that they are > getting the boot and had Mitel call our director of operations etc > and I get the dirty job of why we should go Call Manager or Mitel VOIP. > > Thanks.. > > > From: Martin Blackstone [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:19 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: VOIP Vendor Question... > > This is such a difficult question. There is a lot riding on it and > ultimately once you make the decision you can never really go back. > > What is your phone infrastructure like now? Is it just flat calling, > or do you have a call center? Is your routing sophisticated or pretty normal? > Do you have remote sites? If you do, can you do QOS? What’s your > budget like? Who is going to manage it? Do you have a phone guy? > Does your Cisco infrastructure support POE? So many questions! > > When I did my last phone system, I looked at the big boys like > Nortel and Avaya. I never really liked their VOIP systems because > they seemed to me like a shim to their traditional PBX’s. Maybe > that’s changed, but that’s how it felt. > > In the end I narrowed it down to Shoretel and Cisco. Cisco blew the > budget out of the water and offered no wiggle room (at least until I > chose Shoretel, then there was lots of wiggle room, but too late). > Shoretel was the choice and we never looked back. It is a great phone system. > > This isn’t like Dell or HP. It’s a huge decision that takes a lot of time. > > From: Chyka, Robert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:04 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: VOIP Vendor Question... > > If you were rolling out a new phone system in 8 months to a year and > your current PBX is Mitel and your infrastructure is Cisco, which > VOIP vendor would you choose and why? I need some ammo here.. it > would be for up to 400 phones…. > > Thanks…Bob C. > > > > > > > > > > > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
