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VOIP: SIP vs. proprietary Broadview Networks Silnet ??

I'm researching VOIP solutions for our company's two locations (50 users + 50 users) connected via WAN link.

1. What are the top 3 or 4 providers of cloud VOIP I should investigate and consider?

2. Broadview Networks boasts they use their " own unique technology and SilNet™, instead of SIP or open source".  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

3. Any good independent places to get up to speed on cloud VOIP?

Thanks,
Mike
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Aaron Tomosky
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Would it be possible to get some of your requirements?

But I do also concur about looking at in an house solution with approximately 100 users, as long as you have the capability to support it.
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I'd say price and SIMPLE as the two main requirements.  Our LAN admin will be retiring so it needs to be something super-easy to support.
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IMO phones and email are two things that just aren't worth spending time and it resources supporting. Unless you have some special requirements requiring onsite gear, just don't do it. Have dual circuits at both locations, either mpls or an sdwan solution like Aryaka, and don't add another server to your rack.
Thanks for the comments everyone.   I will investigate the resources mentioned for UC.  Our main objective is to go with a mainstream cheap easy to support cloud VOIP.
Just learned our current PBX vendor is a shoretel reseller so Shoretel will certainly be on the short-list of consideration.  Sadly, their phones are proprietary also.  Sad because we own some cisco IP phones for HQ already.  Hate to buy $15,000 worth of phones.  However, we could "rent" them for $5,000 / year but the break even is 3 years so if we can afford it, it would make more sense to buy them outright.
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Thanks again for all the input!