Buisness Phone Systems

[EvanAdams]

The local phone guy wanted $1000's so I figured I'd figure this out on my own. If I can build a computer I can certainly figure out phones!

Well yikes not so easy!

I can't find any good websites that talk about the basics and what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid.

It would be easy if it was a big corp with 100's of employees but we are small just a few of us in a home office.

All I could find was http://www.twacomm.com/

All the websites out there look to push product on you not info.

Frustrated!

 

[bruceb]

That's the way it is in telecom. Look at that site and you will see that just a Avaya controller
will run about $700 or so ... each phone to go with it, about $170 or so each.. Then you need
the cables and wiring to the wall jacks (most new systems need only regular quad wire to the sets)
and you need someone who knows how to program the controller. You also need to configure
the incoming dial tone cards properly. Controllers can be optioned for all sorts of stuff, including
intercom, music on hold, voice mail, restricted dialing based on either the Extension Number or
based on the Area Code you are trying to call to. They can also generate a very extensive list of
phone usage and by who.

End result: Pay a tech or company that has a good track record to get it done right.

FYI: I work in the telecom field myself, but at the cellular phone service level.
Primarily with T1 & T3 lines

 

[crobusa]

Ma Bell Killer
2 line office

Equipment Reviews

For extra goodies, insert Phone Server
Phone Server magic

VOIP ate the telephone man.

 

[EvanAdams]

VOIP ate the telephone man.

Except when you live in the country with rural wifi broadbrand and cant afford a T1

bleah

 

[bruceb]

While VOIP is here to stay, for business use and even just basic personal use, it still needs to be
configured and that can be very tricky to do. I took the Cisco VOIP class and learned a bit about
Cisco Call Manager and also how to configure the routers / switches for use with VOIP Phones
and also how to bring DIal Tone or Trunks into the equipment so you make calls. Just because
you are VOIP does not mean you do not need the local phone network.. It is a must, if you want
to call outside of your own phone network. In a business, you bring in a few Trunk or T1 lines.
If you get VOIP from say Cablevision, then they have the Trunk / T1 at their office to connect you
to the rest of the phone world. Also VOIP equipment must be properly set up so that E911 will
work properly and give the correct location in the event of an emergency call.

 

[EvanAdams]

Could we not threadjack this thread with VOIP talk. It is not an option for me due to rural location. I guess the Al Gore tax coveres everyone but us.

 

[EvanAdams]

ah ha! I knew I'd find something. Too bad I cant add 2nd wired setups.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasoni...s-System/dp/B000F8THGK