willp2
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Good VoIP phone systems for mid-sized business? Alternative to Cisco UC preferred
Hi, looking for options / opinions on small business VoIP phone systems. We really want something that is versatile and easy to manage that can scale to 100+ users.
We've been working with Cisco UC500 class systems but find them to be much harder to manage everyday than should be needed for basic tasks and the implementation and reliance on Cisco support end up making them extremely pricey to own over the long haul.
Are there any good options out there that are versatile, scalable and actually easy to build and manage at a reasonable price?
We’d like to stay away from open source and go with something branded with support, but would consider anything.
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
We've been working with Cisco UC500 class systems but find them to be much harder to manage everyday than should be needed for basic tasks and the implementation and reliance on Cisco support end up making them extremely pricey to own over the long haul.
Are there any good options out there that are versatile, scalable and actually easy to build and manage at a reasonable price?
We’d like to stay away from open source and go with something branded with support, but would consider anything.
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
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Check this product : http://www.3cx.com/VOIP/voip-phone.html
>> If there's ever a big problem the question inevitably comes up as to why we aren’t using something name brand like Cisco
Absolutely. That's why you would need to get buy-in early on in the process, and get your support options lined up.
Open source software gives you a toolkit which proprietary tools don't without costly add-ons or custom programming languages.
Asterisk can scale, and scale very well, but of course, test, test, test before rolling your phones out to any new system, open source or not. :)
-Matt
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I would second IP Office being simple to manage, I prefer a terminal session onto a CM system, but I've been using them since 95...
ASKER
Thanks for the IP Office thoughts, looking at it now.
ASKER
Thanks for all the comments
ASKER
I have used Asterisk a number of times in the past with mostly very good results on a small scale.
For the record, I have no problem with using open source from a technical side. The problem is more political than practical. If there's ever a big problem the question inevitably comes up as to why we aren’t using something name brand like Cisco. So even if the product isn’t as good and costs more there are some that will always question the decision.