VOIP system that will integrate with O365

[birchanger]

We've rolled out Office 365 but can't finish the job because our Cisco VoIP system uses the Unified Messaging services of our on-premises Exchange servers, meaing that affected mailboxes (almost all staff) cannot be migrated. I've just been quoted a big heap of cash to integrate our phones with O365, but as the telephony servers and handsets are over six years old I'm reluctant to spend a lot on them.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a phone system that will provide UM with O365? Preferably hosted - I see gaps in the server rack as A Good Thing these days.

 

Currently our network is VOIP internally but using conventional ISDN to the outside. I'm assuming that any replacement would route calls through our newly-boosted 500Mb data connection to an external gateway.

[john]

Worth looking at Skype for Business perhaps given that is Microsoft? You can port numbers up from on-premis or use new lines for it. I know @robk has been looking a lot at this and doing some testing recently

[robk]

We've rolled out Office 365 but can't finish the job because our Cisco VoIP system uses the Unified Messaging services of our on-premises Exchange servers, meaing that affected mailboxes (almost all staff) cannot be migrated. I've just been quoted a big heap of cash to integrate our phones with O365, but as the telephony servers and handsets are over six years old I'm reluctant to spend a lot on them.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a phone system that will provide UM with O365? Preferably hosted - I see gaps in the server rack as A Good Thing these days.

 

Currently our network is VOIP internally but using conventional ISDN to the outside. I'm assuming that any replacement would route calls through our newly-boosted 500Mb data connection to an external gateway.

 

What sort of numbers of users and ISDN lines are you using?

 

Office 365 Enterprise voice works well, though its licenced per user per month. Though you do have the option of going all in, and porting your phone nos over now.

 

I don't think you get auto attendants at the moment though.

 

If your phone system could forward on calls via SIP to S4B that may give you the voicemail requirements however.

[TechMonkey]

What features do you want? 3CX does some integration. I've not used the O365 integration personally but it does do it.

[birchanger]

Hi - apologies for the delay in replying.

 

We've about 200 users and 75 devices, with 'extension mobility' (users log on to phones with their AD credentials). I don't know how many ISDN channels we have, as that's managed by the finance manager. However I cannot see that we'd need more than , say, half a dozen concurrent calls in progress.

 

I had considered using O365, although the lack of an autoattendant may prove a problem. I haven't really looked at it. What physical phones does it support? Any generic SIP device?

[birchanger]

@TechMonkey,

 

We'll need the normal school autoattendant, as that's currently being supplied by on-premises Exchange (i.e. dial 1 for finance, 2 for absence ...), with working day and out-of-hours/holidays menu. Most teaching and nonteaching staff (about, what 175 people) will need voicemail deposits delivered as email, and we need a number of physical handsets, say 75, for offices. Although in theory I like the idea of users logging into a device, in practice few bother, so a fixed mapping of extension to user would be acceptable.

[HPlum78]

Used Lync / Skype quit a lot, there are plenty of phones supported never tried it off prem mind, the auto attendant is an interesting one and I don't know if Exchange 365 can do anything. Here is a wealth of information Skype : Jeff Schertz's Blog for anything UC wise. Maybe helpful.

[TechMonkey]

All standard & 3CX can do it. Auto attendant is done through a web page and recording the prompt. Out of hours and Holiday messages can be set but Holidays only per day but they are working on timed holidays for the next release.

Voicemail isn't an extra license in 3CX so you can enable or disable at whim. Voicemail can be set to either stay on the handset, have an email alert, email the message and stay on the phone or email and delete from the phone.

It can do logging in and out of handsets but we haven't bothered, we've set it up exactly the same as you.

 

3CX is licensed by concurrent calls, so we have a 16 call license and not hit near it yet, but we are a smaller install than you.

[john]

 

I had considered using O365, although the lack of an autoattendant may prove a problem. I haven't really looked at it. What physical phones does it support? Any generic SIP device?

 

You can get Phones that have Lync embedded in them such as the Polycom CX500 & 600 and then you can get some with compatible firmware that are certified for it such as the SNOM handsets which are nice and then are more programmable as they are SIP phones with Lync featuers so you can customise them as required.

 

We use mainly the Polycom CX range either 300 (which is a USB phone so needs the PC logged in and S4B client open) or 600's which operate without the PC or via a USB Link cable to sync the calendar to them and allow control via the Lync app.

[blueplanetit]

Microsoft has launched a Cloud PBX which is an add on to your Office 365 subscription, we are looking to install it here in the next few weeks. I will post how it goes and what our impression is.

[apearce]

Have you considered the Skype for Business Connector where it allows you to keep all your numbers on-prem for now but then link the phone to a Skype for Business Online account? Do Cisco offer something like this as well (don't know but worth an ask)?