Telephone System

[Tricky_Dicky]

Hi,

 

We have a load of extensions in school (60 odd) all connected back to Centrex. This works fine, but each line costs £5 a month and we need to rely on the phone company to do the extensions.

 

Can anyone recommend a VOIP system that we could install/manage ourselves? I was planning to use the VOIP internally and then connect to maybe 10-15 external phone lines externally because the thought of trying to get our LA to open up the required ports to use VOIP externally are low to none!

Thanks

[localzuk]

I'd say look at 3CX or Asterisk. 3CX will be less work, but doesn't have the pedigree of Asterisk.

 

For the outgoing lines, I'd say "get yourself a second net connection". An ADSL line would be enough to run VOIP for that number of lines. Just keep the line completely separate to your network stuff.

 

A 3CX license for 16 lines (they come in levels) is about £800. You then get maintenance support for £160 a year for it. And if you want full support, another £240 a year.

 

But that's all you need then, plus your trunks.

Edited September 30, 2014 by localzuk

[Quackers]

We use Elastix which is just Asterisk but with a lot more bolted on. Over 120 Extensions over 5 sites. Works great love it.

[dgsmith]

We're going down the route currently of looking at changing our phone system and I am very taken by 3CX, but then our SLT have reservations about a system that seems too cheap and something which requires a lot of internal configuration (despite it looking manageable from the free version I have installed).

The great thing about 3CX is their licensing approach by concurrent calls rather than extensions (i.e. there is no limit to extensions and no financial requirements beyond the physical handset).

In saying that, I would really like the thoughts of a few using 3CX and whether they would still choose it if going down the route again of changing systems.

[Meldrew]

We're going down the route currently of looking at changing our phone system and I am very taken by 3CX, but then our SLT have reservations about a system that seems too cheap and something which requires a lot of internal configuration (despite it looking manageable from the free version I have installed).

The great thing about 3CX is their licensing approach by concurrent calls rather than extensions (i.e. there is no limit to extensions and no financial requirements beyond the physical handset).

In saying that, I would really like the thoughts of a few using 3CX and whether they would still choose it if going down the route again of changing systems.

 

We use 3cx here 100+ extensions and its absolutely fantastic. Configuration wise its no problem. We installed all our 100 odd extensions basically with one our team doing most of the work over the space of an Easter holidays. Regarding lines, I'd say speak to BT Local Business about getting a leased line. We looked into getting one and it would be much cheaper to get one and run broadband down it too. Our problem is our ISP, SWGfL wants obscene amounts of money to terminate the contract early. We'll be going back to BT in a years time and doing this, just a later than we hoped.

 

Wiltshire College have gone the 3cx route (1000+ extensions) partly based on our recommendation and they are very happy too.

 

Meldrew