Thread: Lets talk telephone systems

What's everyone using today? VoIP, PBX, hybrid, etc?

I don't have much experience with the whole subject. The phone guys that I've contacted so far have not been of the most help...

Brief description of my business: 8 staff (going to double in 5-6 months), 4 copper lines and 1 dedicated fax, running on DSL via an ATT small business phone system (945 & 947 model phones).

We exceed 40k minutes per month between 4 people on the phone. I've been told I would have to do and "enterprise" VoIP that brings costs up ridiculously. We are in debt collection so the business is 95% phone based. My cost is going up and productivity is at a stand still. The current system is really limited in features. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

-Michael

If you can get onto better broadband vrs DSL I would go VoIP with a good router. I have 6 business phones, 1 conference phone and a fax over broadband VoIP and yes the fax works great as well which some will say it won't. No local phone bill and most VoIp carriers will offer bundles of minutes like cell plans to fit your usage.

What features do you need that you don't currently have?

Based on the volume of minutes you're using, VoIP would be the way to go unless there were some local provider that offered you a really good unlimited usage plan (which behind the curtains would be a VoIP-based system anyway). PBX technology is dying off at a fairly quick pace.

Most importantly, I need the ability to transfer between lines and have 12 lines available for incoming/outgoing at the same time. Voicemail for each extension comes in at a very close 2nd.

I did some google searches and called some local phone guys that keep telling me that VoIP wont work due to us using an intelligent dialer. One guy went to the extent of telling me that if I have 3-4 copper lines, he can install a hybrid system that will allow me to make the needed 12 incoming/outgoing at the same time. He mentioned something about the CPU generating a digital dial tone...

My current system has none of the above features. It's bad, really bad. Until the end of this month, my office is small enough for my employees to yell the line that they have someone holding on. Starting the first, I'm in a new location that is double the size.

OK, now this is becoming a little more complicated. Intelligent dialing means you'll likely need some custom scripting/tweaking to a call center type of VoIP setup, rather than your run of the mill VoIP small business solution. Obviously, that means more money now. But in the long run, you'd still be better off from an ease of setup and total cost of ownership perspective as compared to a legacy PBX.

PM your budget, and I might be able to make some suggestions.......

Asterisk- The Open Source Telephony Projects | Asterisk

Couldn't be happier.

Originally Posted by 2Props

Asterisk- The Open Source Telephony Projects | Asterisk

Couldn't be happier.

Thanks, It seems like a great system. The only issue I see is the lack of IT help that I have. I don't have a designated IT guy to give the project to.

Can any of you recommend a decent phone guy in the Los Angeles area?

I can recommend someone in the Bay Area, who can be of remote help, and may be able to come to LA for the install and support everything else remotely. I'm sure there are many a folk in the LA area who can also assist. PM if you want my contact's info.

Phone systems huh?