Thanks for asking!
As I understand your question, you're seeking a cost-effective
PC-based business telephone system. I've turned to CommWeb.com for
many of the independent reviews, price comparisons, and purchasing
tips. The phone system that is least expensive for you will depend
upon the system size, and your company's unique requirements.
"A new breed of telephony system brings the LAN client/server model
and its voice/data convergence to telephone-call switching/control as
well as voice/fax messaging.
LAN-Based Phone Systems
Aka. "communication servers" and/or "communication appliances" and/or
"UnPBXs" and/or "PC-based PBXs"..., whatever you want to call it,
there's no question that in the last few years a new breed of
telephony system has risen that brings the LAN client/server model and
its implied voice/data convergence to the basic business-class
applications of "private branch" telephone-call switching/control as
well as voice/fax messaging."
CommWeb
LAN-Based Phone Systems
http://www.commweb.com/article/COM20001003S0029
The features you've noted are considered among those "most necessary"
in the evaluation criteria for LAN-based phone systems, according to
Buyer's Tips.
"PBX-like Call Accounting and Traffic Reporting.
The system should absolutely log call activity and include
tracking/billing/accounting software to process this data. It should
also generate reports on system performance/use and let third-party
experts integrate their systems as well."
"Caller ID Support.
This should be standard - knowing who's calling is often key to
automated CT processing."
"War-Room Wiring.
How does the system connect to trunks? How does it connect to station
wires? Are there any patch-panel-type strategies that make sorting
this all out easier. Is there any special Automatic Line Bypass blocks
that the vendor has developed."
CommWeb
LAN-Based Phone Systems - Buying Tips - What to look for.
http://www.commweb.com/article/COM20000526S0009
LAN-Based Phone Systems
=======================
I'll provide summaries of the offerings of several popular providers
of LAN-based phone systems below. Pricing information is scarce. In
most circumstances, the price is highly dependent upon hardware you
might already own, plus the individual configuration, and therefore,
must be obtained as a quote directly from the company or dealer.
Vertical Networks Instant Office System
The InstantOffice system integrates the functions of a packet- and
circuit-switched PBX, voice mail system, multiprotocol router,
Ethernet LAN, voice over IP gateway, and applications. It supports a
variety of WAN access types-T1, frame relay, ISDN Primary Rate
Interface (PRI), digital subscriber lines (DSL), 56/64K DDS, and
analog lines. The system supports both digital and analog telephones.
It is scalable, easy to use, and supports communications applications
such as call center. For branch offices and small to medium-sized
businesses, the InstantOffice system puts complex, multivendor
communications hardware and software where they belong: in the past.
Vertical Networks
Instant Office
http://www.vertical.com/products/index.html
Resellers
http://www.vertical.com/partners/index.html
3Com NBX 100 Communications System
The 3Com NBX 100 communications system integrates a call processing
feature set with standards-based, Ethernet technology in a business
telephone system. It is self-contained and LAN-based. The system's
call processing engine doubles as an application server. It delivers
standard features that range from auto-attendant/voice mail to unified
messaging and TAPI-enabled Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). The
call processor scales up to 12 auto-attendant voice messaging ports
and 80 hours of storage via software upgrades.
The award-winning 3Com® NBX® 100 communications system delivers robust
call-processing features and a suite of telephony applications over
your local and wide area network (LAN and WAN). Designed for small to
midsize businesses and branch offices with up to 200 devices per
location, it features fourth-generation 3Com NBX (R4.0) system
software that simplifies third-party applications integration, enables
seamless multisite intra-company dialing and toll-bypass applications,
and supports VPIM voice message exchange between sites. The NBX 100
solution brings you cost-effective access to enterprise-caliber
communications, easy-to-use features, intuitive Web browser–based
administration, and an open architecture for straightforward
applications integration.
3Com
NBX 100 Communications System
http://emea.3com.com/products/nbx/nbx_100cs.html
Artisoft TeleVantage
"TeleVantage is the feature-rich, software-based phone system that
combines the power of your desktop computer with the most advanced
communications technology available today. Built on an open-systems
architecture, TeleVantage provides more value for your money than any
other phone system, while safeguarding your investment for the future.
For small to midsized businesses and corporate branch offices,
Artisoft TeleVantage is a feature-rich software-based phone system
delivering greater flexibility, value and lower cost of ownership.
TeleVantage operates on Microsoft Windows 2000/NT servers,
industry-standard Intel voice-processing hardware, and any H.323,
ADSI, IP or CLASS feature phone. Scaling easily up to 96 trunks by 264
extensions, TeleVantage provides intelligent call management, ACD,
graphical interface, IP telephony, Web browser capability, and
messaging. An intelligent, Windows-based interface provides complete
call and message control from your PC desktop. Conference calls,
forward, transfer or screen your calls with the click of a button."
Artisoft
TeleVantage 4.0
http://www.artisoft.com/products.html
NEC PBX Key and Hybrid Systems for Small Business
"The objective of NEC Key and Hybrid Systems is to help employees of
small- to medium-sized companies respond to their business challenges
more effectively. Key and hybrid systems are an ideal investment for
small and growing organizations that require an advanced communication
solution, which is designed specifically with them in mind. Built-in
management functions bring value and control to growing businesses.
Systems are easy to use, install and maintain resulting in a very low
Total Cost of Ownership. All key and hybrid systems are built for the
future and are designed for easy system software upgrades. This design
keeps your investment current for many years to come."
Offerings include:
Electra Elite 48 & 192 The Electra Elite 48/192 is a feature-rich,
expandable key system that provides over 200 strategic business
features.
InfoSet 408 Affordable turnkey solution for small offices, home
offices and today's multi-phone households. User-friendly features
allow for simple use, easy installation, integrated voice mail,
high-speed Internet access and home networking.
i-Series i-Series ISDN compatible office communications, with unique
system architecture and enhanced with Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
technology, provide a solid, flexible foundation for reliability,
adaptability and performance.
DS1000 Smallest member of the DS Series. Initial size: 3 lines, 8 key
phones and 4 standard touchtone phones. Ideal for residence or small
business. Easily expanded to system of 6 lines, 16 key phones and 8
standard touch-tone phones.
DS2000 Largest member of the DS Series. Initial system size: 48 ports
and 4 card slots, which are used for phones or outside lines. It can
easily be expanded to full system size of 8 card slots by upgrading to
a 104 port cabinet.
Portrait 308 Practical choice for all your telecommunication needs.
Versatile system with station ports that can easily support either
electronic proprietary telephones or analog devices - like single line
sets, fax machines or modems.
Portrait 824 Excellent choice for all your telecommunication needs.
Grows up to 8 trunks and 24 stations. Station ports easily support
either electronic proprietary telephones or analog devices - like
single line sets, fax machines or modems.
NEC
Key and Hybrid Systems
http://www.cng.nec.com/cng/Products/ProProductCategorySplit.asp?catid=27
Key Telephone Systems
=====================
"Key Telephone Systems (KTSs) are small business telephone systems
that generally are used where the requirement is for 2-100 telephones,
and where there are a large number of internal intercom calls in
relation to the number of inbound or outbound calls.
Electronic Key Telephone Systems (EKTSs) are microprocessor-controlled
small business systems. They are proprietary systems which consist of
telephone sets and a Key Telephone Unit (KTU), which is the electronic
equivalent of the KSU although the terms often are used
interchangeably. The sets connect via Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
cables to the KTU, which serves as a common control unit. The KTU
serves as an intermediate point of connection between the telephone
sets and the Central Office (CO) lines, which support both incoming
and outgoing calls between the KTS and the PSTN. The KTU also serves
as the common point of interconnection for intercom (i.e.,
intercommunication) calls between the telephone sets. Finally, the KTU
provides the feature content to the telephone sets on the basis of
programmed logic in the form of generic software loads. Contemporary
KTSs support many of the less sophisticated features found in small
PBX (Private Branch Exchange) switches. Many EKTSs are fully digital,
and are capable of supporting data, as well as voice, communications."
CommWeb
Key Telephone Systems
http://www.commweb.com/article/COM20000526S0005
Again, prices are dependent upon factors that haven't been specified,
including the number of lines and phone units you'll require.
Key Telephone System Buying Tips
"Be Reasonable.
Key systems are for small businesses that don't need a lot of fancy
features. Sure, some of them get pretty fancy, but remember that they
are not PBXs, so be reasonable in your expectations. Key systems also
are inexpensive - much less expensive than a PBX. If a key system will
do the trick, you'll save.
Scalability.
Key system capacities are rigidly defined. There are clear limits to
the number of telephone sets and the number of outside lines that they
will support. While some systems are scalable, say from 12x24 to 24x60
(lines by phones), many are not. If you don't buy a system in
consideration of near-term or intermediate-term growth in your
business, an expensive forklift upgrade may be in your future. Some
systems do not support the same phones as you upgrade from one KSU to
another, so check that out as well."
The new breed of "open" CT phone systems.
"Call them communication servers; call them UnPBXs; call them PC-based
phone systems. But whatever you call them, there's two things that
deserve mentioning here: they rival the price points of key systems;
and they provide features that not even most advanced PBX platforms
can.
As for the latter, it should be noted that all of the PC-based systems
have deeply integrated call control and media processing functions.
This is because, unlike traditional phone systems - where an "adjunct"
PC usually handles the media processing and then works (as best it
can) with the phone system to affect accompanying call control - there
is no "I" in these "computer" systems; instead, switching and media
processing, e.g. auto attendant/voicemail, are meshed from the start,
allowing for such advanced features as follow-me call-forwarding to
multiple numbers and "boomerang" - wherein callers can get dialtone
and auto callback people out of voicemail queues, make a connections,
then drop back into the queues exactly where they left off (a super
time saver)."
CommWeb
Key Telephone Systems
http://www.commweb.com/article/COM20000526S0006
An Introduction to PC-Based Phone Systems, by Brian McConnell
"PC-based voice mail systems have been around for years, but it has
only been in the past couple of years that PCs have begun to compete
with proprietary PBX and intercom systems."
HelloDirect
An Introduction to PC-Based Phone Systems
http://telecom.hellodirect.com/docs/Tutorials/PCPhoneSys.1.032999.asp
"AT&T 964 KSU-less Speakerphone with Caller ID and Answering System
Perhaps your business is just starting out and you're not sure how
large it will become. Or maybe you have a handful of employees, but
you'd like personal mailboxes for everyone. You could subscribe to
your local phone company's voice mail service but it won't sound very
professional to your clients. You could install an expensive Public
Branch Exchange (PBX) phone system. But do you really want to make
that large of an investment?"
The full review is available at:
HelloDirect
AT&T 964 KSU-less Speakerphone with Caller ID and Answering System
http://telecom.hellodirect.com/docs/Reviews/ATTKSUless.1.032601.asp
Additional Phone System Reviews from HelloDirect:
http://telecom.hellodirect.com/docs/Reviews/default.asp?section=Phone_Systems
Caller ID Software
==================
Tucows lists a selection of computer Caller ID software.
http://www.tucows.com/callid95.html
Obtaining Price Quotes
======================
The BuyerZone offers the ability to obtain quotes from several
appropriate suppliers, based upon the features and needs you indicate:
BuyerZone.com
Phone Systems - Request a Quote
http://www.buyerzone.com/telecom_equipment/phone_systems/qz_questions_322.jhtml?_requestid=18155
A used phone system may be an inexpensive way of either saving money
or acquiring more features for your telephone system spending dollar.
UsedPhones.com offers used phone systems, and also a search function
to locate installers, nationwide. A few of their phone system package
prices are quoted here:
UsedPhone.com
Phone System Packages
http://www.usedphones.com/1/quotpack.asp
You may utilize CommWeb's Buyer's Guide to obtain online feature
comparison tables for IP-Based PBXs. I've fed the very long dynamic
link to MakeAShorterLink. If the session ID expires, you may reach
this directory by going to CommWeb.com's home URL, selecting the
Buyer's Guide links, and choosing the IP-Based PBXs link.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C31D12821
Once you've narrowed down the type of system needed to several
choices, C|NET's Shopper.com may be useful for comparison of prices.
Their Search function is generally the fastest way to located prices
for specific equipment.
C|NET Shopper
http://shopper.cnet.com/
Google search terms:
"business phone system"
LAN phone systems
PC-based phone systems
key phone systems
I hope this information is useful in your phone system selection
process. Hopefully I've given you several cost-effective alternatives
to investigate in detail. Should you have any questions about the
information provided, or if I can assist you further, please feel
free to ask, by using the Clarification option.
larre-ga |
