MaceZ4 Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 I was wondering if anyone has used/got a VoIP system in their school..? I'm new to my current school and I've had all the ideas people have had stored up dumped on me in the last few days!! I helped set up the handsets on a "private sector" job a good number of years back, but I have no idea what will be involved in getting my school set up...
Millgate Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 I obviously haven't done it myself but a school of mine have a Cisco VOIP system I helped them quote and install. I'd recommend a conf call with Cisco or whoever you want, to talk through the solution which I can arrange for you. It depends on what kind of budget you're working to but don't rule out Cisco because you might think it's expensive, public sector can get some really attractive discounts! Hope this helps Luke
jamesreedersmith Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 Look at PBX in a Flash (free software for the server) i have a lot of systems running using it! Pm me if you want a chat about it - im not going to sell you anything either - free no obligation chat.
glennda Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 I'm currently comparing an Avaya Solution, Splicecom, Panasonic and a few others. For us an IP system makes much more sense then a analogue system simply becuase we can tie it in with all the other services we can provide.
MatthewL Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 We use a mixture of Avaya systems, got another one been installed in a few weeks in a new build of ours, cannot fault it.
mproffitt Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 We use Samsung Officeserv, This is an hybrid system that allows us to use our analogue, digital and VOIP handsets. All the older handsets remained in place and the VOIP handsets get installed in departments whenever new ones are required.
MattGreaves Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 Worth checking out 3CX - very simple and cost effective solution without the high costs that some of the other providers have!
FragglePete Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 Currently doing the same, looking to replace our phone system with a new IP based system with at least 120 phones. Had a number of companies into talk through stuff and had a couple of demos. Like the ShoreTel stuff but it's out of our price range and was very impressed with the SpliceCom kit. Should be making a decision next week, but my head hurts talking to different suppliers. Prices have all come in at around the same region. Pete
dwhyte85 Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 Look at PBX in a Flash (free software for the server) i have a lot of systems running using it! Pm me if you want a chat about it - im not going to sell you anything either - free no obligation chat. Second this, very good - if i remember correctly they even have a ready to go VM also lots of mods and cheap support (compared to the big names).
localzuk Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 I set up an Asterisk + FreePBX system at my last place, and its still going strong. Worth taking a look at it, but is isn't the easiest system to set up.
jamesfed Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 As you are a school Microsoft Lync 2010 with Enterprise voice is dirt cheap - the only sting is the cost of the handsets but if your staff can be convinced to use USB ones with no dial pad (just use the software client) then things can turn out quite nicely. Were currently in the process of putting together our own proposal for Lync Enterprise Voice after deploying presense/IM and are planning on making a saving within year 2.
FragglePete Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 As you are a school Microsoft Lync 2010 with Enterprise voice is dirt cheap - the only sting is the cost of the handsets but if your staff can be convinced to use USB ones with no dial pad (just use the software client) then things can turn out quite nicely. Were currently in the process of putting together our own proposal for Lync Enterprise Voice after deploying presense/IM and are planning on making a saving within year 2. Have seem some demos of Lync and was impressed, but at the end of the day; people want a phone, they like to see physical phones and use a phone like they have done all their life. You should see the looks I get when I try to introduce to concept of a Soft Phone! Pete
john Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 @Ric_ introduced Lync at his last place and it looked very swish and had physical phones, he had some Snom handsets (think they were Snom) and them some very posh Polycom ones and it worked well
localzuk Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 @Ric_ introduced Lync at his last place and it looked very swish and had physical phones, he had some Snom handsets (think they were Snom) and them some very posh Polycom ones and it worked well The handsets that work with Lync are expensive from what I can see. I can get a SIP handset for £33 or £50 for a better quality one. The cheapest Lync ones I can find are £140.
jamesfed Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 The handsets that work with Lync are expensive from what I can see. I can get a SIP handset for £33 or £50 for a better quality one. The cheapest Lync ones I can find are £140. Yep thats where the sting is - all the same the intergration between the phone and the PC is amazing. USB (no dial pad) can be picked up for about £90 a go and are still very high qulity. At the moment we are looking at a bit of a hybryd with all desk tied staff getting a USB phone and then IP phones in 'common areas'.
plexer Posted December 3, 2011 Posted December 3, 2011 Snom 300 can work with ocs and are about £65 Ben
JBoyd Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 We have a Cisco VoIP phone system installed as part of our new build and, while it has some good features, it was very expensive and the administration of even the smallest change is best left to someone who knows what they are doing. I did a days course on it and, even after this I was none the wiser!!! It looked to me like you had about 3 or 4 steps just to change a user's extension and god help you if you do it in the wrong order! Don't even mention it to our Business Manager unless wearing full kevlar body armour
glennda Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 We are currently now looking at this Premium Quality Hosted IP Business Telephony and VoIP Solutions All hosted externally, as long as the vlans are setup correctly and you have a decent internet line it should work well.
jc1875 Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 The handsets that work with Lync are expensive from what I can see. I can get a SIP handset for £33 or £50 for a better quality one. The cheapest Lync ones I can find are £140. We used polycom cx200 handsets (USB) at around £80+vat each. cx500 model is only £20 more expensive and used as our common area phones Yep thats where the sting is - all the same the intergration between the phone and the PC is amazing. USB (no dial pad) can be picked up for about £90 a go and are still very high qulity. At the moment we are looking at a bit of a hybryd with all desk tied staff getting a USB phone and then IP phones in 'common areas'. exactly what we've done. also got a bunch of microsoft lifecam HD's for £25 each - bye bye skype
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