VoIP Conundrum

[talksr]

Hi there, not too sure how best to proceed here.

 

We have a poorly managed and looked after Avaya VoIP system, except that it is not currently running as a proper VoIP system. The company who have implemented the system are not the greatest and as such, we want to go elsewhere.

We have quite a few Avaya one-X handsets and then better models in the main offices where the switchboard comes through.

 

Sadly, the above system, had nothing to do with me and was a project managed by the site manager? Bit odd.

 

Now we are looking at a proper VoIP solution, it has fallen into my remit and I currently have budget assigned to this project which would enable me to get one of the new snazzy Cisco VoIP systems that Atomwide supply (we are currently an Atomwide broadband customer too). As Atomwide now have CSS Technology 2 Framework, I would not need to go out and get more quotes, however, I don't like the fact that each Cisco phone has an ongoing quarterly licencing fee.

 

Can anyone tell me if it would be possible to use our existing hardware (just the handsets), buy another VoIP controller for Avaya phones and get it set up again by a more competent company?

Without going into the details too much, we own our handsets and the system the phones run on, but that system is owned 50% by us and 50% by another school.

 

Any help would be great as this is all a little new to me.

Edited September 18, 2017 by talksr

[Meldrew]

Have a look at 3cx to see if your handsets would be supported - we love 3cx here.

 

Meldrew.

[localzuk]

There aren't any Avaya phones in the supported phone list for 3cx, however if they can be manually configured with SIP, then this is a possibility.

[DGardiner]

Hi there, not too sure how best to proceed here.

 

We have a poorly managed and looked after Avaya VoIP system, except that it is not currently running as a proper VoIP system. The company who have implemented the system are not the greatest and as such, we want to go elsewhere.

We have quite a few Avaya one-X handsets and then better models in the main offices where the switchboard comes through.

 

Sadly, the above system, had nothing to do with me and was a project managed by the site manager? Bit odd.

 

Now we are looking at a proper VoIP solution, it has fallen into my remit and I currently have budget assigned to this project which would enable me to get one of the new snazzy Cisco VoIP systems that Atomwide supply (we are currently an Atomwide broadband customer too). As Atomwide now have CSS Technology 2 Framework, I would not need to go out and get more quotes, however, I don't like the fact that each Cisco phone has an ongoing quarterly licencing fee.

 

Can anyone tell me if it would be possible to use our existing hardware (just the handsets), buy another VoIP controller for Avaya phones and get it set up again by a more competent company?

Without going into the details too much, we own our handsets and the system the phones run on, but that system is owned 50% by us and 50% by another school.

 

Any help would be great as this is all a little new to me.

 

at least with our Avaya system, the licences are bound to the SD card in the system so im not sure how transferable the licences are. but theres plenty of avaya places out there that should be able to point you in the right direction, depending what you need ive had quotes for a replacement controller (500v2) instead of "upgrading" the software for £500 if they can manage to port your licences thats not alot of money for a new setup!

[MatthewL]

I'd stick with the Avaya, it can support all forms so you can do it bit by bit, keep what you have and setup but get the VoIP module and roll out handsets from there just don't replace the analogue cards or what ever they are called in it.

[cpjitservices]

I'd stick with the Avaya, it can support all forms so you can do it bit by bit, keep what you have and setup but get the VoIP module and roll out handsets from there just don't replace the analogue cards or what ever they are called in it.

 

Or spend the money and replace with 3CX far better system. Easier to live with and manage.

 

Support is cheaper too.

 

Your phones will STILL work on 3CX even though they arent supported you'll just have to manually provision them - log into them or use TFTP to roll out a network wide config file to reprovision the phone to point to 3CX. Added to this is the Functionality of 3CX Phone.

[Blue_Cookeh]

This seems a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater to me. We're using an Avaya IP Office system and it's fantastic. Easily one of the easiest phone systems I've ever managed (including Asterisk etc). You should look into managing it yourself or getting a competent company before throwing it all away. Edited September 20, 2017 by Blue_Cookeh

[talksr]

This seems a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater to me. We're using an Avaya IP Office system and it's fantastic. Easily one of the easiest phone systems I've ever managed (including Asterisk etc). You should look into managing it yourself or getting a competent company before throwing it all away.

 

Thanks everyone for your input.

Your comment in particular is very valid, as I have seen the Avaya system in use in so many other places, but they obviously have a telephone management company who are more reliable - got to be careful what I say online.

I very much agree with your views.

I had considered (and suggested to our head) that we could look to get a new company in to take our Avaya system and set it up correctly, but it is looking, in the long run, like it would be easier to start a fresh - such a big waste of money.

We are very pressured on time for this project, and don't have any recommendations for local, London based companies we could use. The current wiring in place for these phones is utterly horrific, whereas my network cabling is all Cat 6 and ready to go with minimal work required. Don't forget, from my OP, we share this system with another school, which does make the matter somewhat more complicated, as if we did decide to use what we have, we would have to purchase a new Avaya controller system and have everything re-configured. By the time you factor all of this in, the cost is getting closer to what we would pay for a brand new Cisco solution.

 

The Cisco solution we are looking at is provided by Atomwide (which for London schools), is a very safe bet. People managing a system who actually understand it, and implement and manage it as you would expect.

My only issue with this sort of solution is the service charges which are charged per handset. I have never seen any mention of service charges on our Avaya systems, so it seems these Cisco fully VOIP systems do have these additional costs.

The difficulty with this sort of solution is that the more phones you get, the more money it costs per year in the quarterly service charges. But at least we would be paying for a system that would actually work, unlike what we have at present.

At the moment, our quarterly service charge would be around £1080 per year.

 

If anyone has any London based telephone company recommendations, please do let me know!

[Edu-IT]

£1080 a year for how many handsets?

[bclarke]

3CX here. Cheap to buy and run. Can recommend Tri-Lan IT to install and maintain. Great VoIP solution.

[nathan]

Running FreePBX here. takes a couple of days to figure it all out but it's pretty simple. Paid support is available if you need it.

[TechMonkey]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Your comment in particular is very valid, as I have seen the Avaya system in use in so many other places, but they obviously have a telephone management company who are more reliable - got to be careful what I say online.

I very much agree with your views.

I had considered (and suggested to our head) that we could look to get a new company in to take our Avaya system and set it up correctly, but it is looking, in the long run, like it would be easier to start a fresh - such a big waste of money.

We are very pressured on time for this project, and don't have any recommendations for local, London based companies we could use. The current wiring in place for these phones is utterly horrific, whereas my network cabling is all Cat 6 and ready to go with minimal work required. Don't forget, from my OP, we share this system with another school, which does make the matter somewhat more complicated, as if we did decide to use what we have, we would have to purchase a new Avaya controller system and have everything re-configured. By the time you factor all of this in, the cost is getting closer to what we would pay for a brand new Cisco solution.

 

The Cisco solution we are looking at is provided by Atomwide (which for London schools), is a very safe bet. People managing a system who actually understand it, and implement and manage it as you would expect.

My only issue with this sort of solution is the service charges which are charged per handset. I have never seen any mention of service charges on our Avaya systems, so it seems these Cisco fully VOIP systems do have these additional costs.

The difficulty with this sort of solution is that the more phones you get, the more money it costs per year in the quarterly service charges. But at least we would be paying for a system that would actually work, unlike what we have at present.

At the moment, our quarterly service charge would be around £1080 per year.

 

If anyone has any London based telephone company recommendations, please do let me know!

Your logic is sound and both Avaya and Cisco solutions properly installed would serve your school.

 

Sorry to jump on the 3CX love train but extending your logic you could probably kit out your school and the other school out with 3CX, new, fancy handsets, sell your old handsets and probably still be cheaper than the Cisco system, probably significantly (talking half to a quarter cheaper). Your service charge would probably be a quarter of your quarterly charge as well.

 

Even more so if you went Asterix/FreePBX.

[cpjitservices]

Your logic is sound and both Avaya and Cisco solutions properly installed would serve your school.

 

Sorry to jump on the 3CX love train but extending your logic you could probably kit out your school and the other school out with 3CX, new, fancy handsets, sell your old handsets and probably still be cheaper than the Cisco system, probably significantly (talking half to a quarter cheaper). Your service charge would probably be a quarter of your quarterly charge as well.

 

Even more so if you went Asterix/FreePBX.

 

Yep, agree 100% - Cisco will cause a headache. And licesnsing/serivce contracts cost will be expensive. 3CX or FreePBX with new handsets, or headsets use 3CX phone.

Edited September 27, 2017 by cpjitservices