Avalon Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Who gets your vote? I have been asked to find quotes for a new phone system at work and i have recieved a £6,995 quote for a Panasonic system, and just over £3,000 for a Nortel system. They both seem to have all the features we need. I am not sure on the reputation or reliability of the Nortel System, but i have been asked to review the quotes and recommend a system by Friday so HELP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkymonkey Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 go with nortel........and not because its cheaper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigflesh Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Business head on.... Nortel everytime. Robust and reliable - pretty much industrial strength (which I presume is what you need it for). Additionally, it is well worth investing a little more in a "converged" voice over IP system as you will furure proof your business. VOIP is not quite 'mainstream' yet, but give it a few years and it will be. Nortel, WILL offer you the best on the market (for a slight premium), but I'm sure you are not buying for 'cost' but reliability. The BCM (Business Communications Manager) is a rack mountable system which will give you full IP (internet) integration and all the benefits that one can expect with an IP based switch. For example, the ability to provide unified messaging through Outlook, where all incoming fax/voicemail and email will be received in you're inbox (and can be treated like email - forward/reply etc). Additional software is also available (via the systems inbuilt 'softkeys') and are usually provided by a company called ITEL (for example the attendant console software), which can offer you a 360 degree view of all phone users within the organisation (e.g. those on leave, those on a call, those on external divert, those on voicemail). Additionally, automated call steering can be provided, thus saving you the associated cost of employing an individual to deal with i/c phone calls. I can only assume that from the figure you mention, you are about to purchase a soon to be obselete bit of kit. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T INVEST IN A TRADITIONAL SYSTEM - THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT AND WILL PROVE TO BE FALSE ECONOMY WITHIN 2 YEARS. Why would you buy a VCR? Consider this, in 1 years time, you are offered free calls over the internet for your business, but then realise that you don't have the technology in place to do it.... and everyone else does! Nortel (in particular, BCM), everytime my friend and good luck.... If capital is an issue, consider a lease agreement and write it into your per person operating costs. The flexibility in all your IT and comms needs both now and in the future will prove it to be a no brainer. Let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalon Posted September 18, 2006 Author Share Posted September 18, 2006 Thanks BF! Ive not had good experience with Nortel in the past, but i think this is becuase our last company didnt buy the correct peices of kit. Nortel gets my vote then - on your head be ot! BTW - The panasonic system we were quoted for was a digital system, not a traditional switching type, but i think we are being conned by the company in question, and i have thought this since we requested extra extensions to be installed and they tried to flo us this system then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigflesh Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Thanks BF! Ive not had good experience with Nortel in the past, but i think this is becuase our last company didnt buy the correct peices of kit. Nortel gets my vote then - on your head be ot! BTW - The panasonic system we were quoted for was a digital system, not a traditional switching type, but i think we are being conned by the company in question, and i have thought this since we requested extra extensions to be installed and they tried to flo us this system then. No probs. A quick heads up on system types: Analogue: support analogue lines only (like the lines we use at home) Digital: support either analogue or digital (ISDN) for DDI functionality Converged (or IP): support analogue, digital and VOIP Extra extensions can be added (usually with an extension card) as most systems are modular. But if your existing system is maxed out, then there may not be room. Additionally, with an IP based switch, remote workers (e.g. md/fd/field sales or engineers) can be hooked into the system (the BCM) as extensions - so even though they live elsewhere (extension 56 could be you're bosses boss at home - if you get me). This can be done on PC based "soft phones" through their Broadband connection, or just by a phone line. Screen popping customer information based on incoming caller ID (or calling line ident presentation if on IDSN) can also be used and could tie into your'e customer relationship management software (if you have it, yet). The possibilities are endless really and the increased functionality could be used to complement other aspects of your business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigflesh Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 .... entry level... http://products.nortel.com/go/product_content.jsp?segId=0&catId=null&parId=0&prod_id=51381&locale=en-US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigflesh Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I'll shut up now... last link dump, I promise. http://podcast.nortel.com/podcasts/nortel_smb_applications_4716.mp3?NT_promo_T_ID=app_140906_in_link_pdcast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alkatraz Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Stay Away From Nortel Every feature is extra, meaning the cheapest option is well.. cheap! Also their support isn't too great either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalon Posted September 26, 2006 Author Share Posted September 26, 2006 Hmm...nortel do seem to have the better system...but im put off by the extra "keys"you have to buy to get features....` Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 http://www.telewest.co.uk/business/products_services/voice_multimedia_services/ip_multimedia/overview.html# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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