Digium (Asterisk) versus ShoreTel - Purchasing Decision
I am trying to gather some information that will assist me in making a purchase decision, Digium or ShoreTel.
Approx 50 users, 3 Sites, 3 Appliances (Larger System at HQ, 2 Smaller Systems at Branches). Plan to Use SIP over Fiber with a few backup Analog Lines, Some Blackberry/Softphone Integration, Unified Communications with Dashboards, 1 Main Company and 2 Smaller Companies In-House which will require separate Call Distribution/Auto-Attendan
The pricing that has been presented by the two companies bidding for my business is about the same. Both systems will provide failover to alternate locations.
Everything with Digium is self-contained within the appliances (Voice Mail, Administration, RAID, etc). ShoreTel requires a seperate server (which has been factored into the price comparison). Not sure if this is a good thing or just something else to maintain.
Digium Appliance (for HQ) has Redundant Fans and Power Supplies, ShoreTel doesn't.
It seems as though the Digium System has more features included. ShoreTel has them too but you have to pay to unlock.
The management of both systems seems very straight forward (although I have to maintain the additional server with ShoreTel).
I have also read that ShoreTel isn't the best choice for SIP (not sure how true this is or not). I do know we've been quoted a SIP 'Connector' called a SIPerator with the ShoreTel system.
Adding phones/users will be more expensive log-term, should I choose ShoreTel.
From what I can tell ShoreTel is very reliable (the main reason they are still in the running), I'm not certain about the Digium System.
Can anyone provide any additional information (or can help substantiate what I have stated) to assist with my purchase decision?
I am only looking at Digium and ShoreTel and will not be considering any other manufacturer/vendor. I have already narrowed the choices down to these last two providers.
Thank you very much.
Approx 50 users, 3 Sites, 3 Appliances (Larger System at HQ, 2 Smaller Systems at Branches). Plan to Use SIP over Fiber with a few backup Analog Lines, Some Blackberry/Softphone Integration, Unified Communications with Dashboards, 1 Main Company and 2 Smaller Companies In-House which will require separate Call Distribution/Auto-Attendan
The pricing that has been presented by the two companies bidding for my business is about the same. Both systems will provide failover to alternate locations.
Everything with Digium is self-contained within the appliances (Voice Mail, Administration, RAID, etc). ShoreTel requires a seperate server (which has been factored into the price comparison). Not sure if this is a good thing or just something else to maintain.
Digium Appliance (for HQ) has Redundant Fans and Power Supplies, ShoreTel doesn't.
It seems as though the Digium System has more features included. ShoreTel has them too but you have to pay to unlock.
The management of both systems seems very straight forward (although I have to maintain the additional server with ShoreTel).
I have also read that ShoreTel isn't the best choice for SIP (not sure how true this is or not). I do know we've been quoted a SIP 'Connector' called a SIPerator with the ShoreTel system.
Adding phones/users will be more expensive log-term, should I choose ShoreTel.
From what I can tell ShoreTel is very reliable (the main reason they are still in the running), I'm not certain about the Digium System.
Can anyone provide any additional information (or can help substantiate what I have stated) to assist with my purchase decision?
I am only looking at Digium and ShoreTel and will not be considering any other manufacturer/vendor. I have already narrowed the choices down to these last two providers.
Thank you very much.
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We're in the same boat. Which system did you go with?
Digium also has a hosted solution for $35/user/month. All features included. 2,000 US domestic local long distance includeded per user that is shared by the account. So 50 users...
Your Plan Would Include
Monthly Cost: $1,750.00*
50 user extensions with Digium's Total UC feature set
50 DID numbers with E911 service
100,000 local/domestic long distance minutes
1 Automated Attendant**
1 Call Queue**
MeetMe Conference Center
* Estimated monthly recurring charge for budgetary purposes only. Actual monthly bill may include taxes and/or fees for additional services. For a formal quote, please use the form above.
** Additional Automated Attendants and Call Queues can be added for a one time setup fee. There are no additional monthly fees associated with these feature additions.
http://www1.digium.com/en/products/hosted-pbx
Your Plan Would Include
Monthly Cost: $1,750.00*
50 user extensions with Digium's Total UC feature set
50 DID numbers with E911 service
100,000 local/domestic long distance minutes
1 Automated Attendant**
1 Call Queue**
MeetMe Conference Center
* Estimated monthly recurring charge for budgetary purposes only. Actual monthly bill may include taxes and/or fees for additional services. For a formal quote, please use the form above.
** Additional Automated Attendants and Call Queues can be added for a one time setup fee. There are no additional monthly fees associated with these feature additions.
http://www1.digium.com/en/products/hosted-pbx
You can also look at Switchvox by Digium, which is based on the Asterisk but in a "closed appliance" approach that removes much of the hassles related to self supporting an open-source platform.
Since it is a premises-based solution it avoids the hosted approach if that does not match your needs.
And Switchvox will cost less than ShoreTel.
Since it is a premises-based solution it avoids the hosted approach if that does not match your needs.
And Switchvox will cost less than ShoreTel.
Voice Over IP
Voice over IP (VoIP) is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms commonly associated with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service. The term specifically refers to the provisioning of communications services (voice, fax, SMS, voice-messaging) over the public Internet, rather than via the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Examples of the VoIP protocols are H.323, Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), H.248 (also known as Media Gateway Control (Megaco)), Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP), Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP), Session Description Protocol (SDP), and Inter-Asterisk eXchange (IAX).
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