Help on Phone System!

[CIsaac]

Hey does anyone know about phone systems and the whole VOIP thing? I'm trying to install cheaper phone systems and I keep running across phone hosting but I'm not quite sure I understand yet how the whole thing works.

There's PBX phone systems and Apptix Voice - Hosted PBX and Voice over IP Solutions VOIP but does anyone have any experience with any of that? These terms are driving me nuts! It seems simple to use and more of what I want (with the ability to talk on your computer, away from work, transfer to employees, long distance, etc) but just how complicated is the setup itself?

Please let me know if you are familiar with non-traditional phone systems...

[jasaunders]

I don't have much experience with them, but from what I have heard and read, if you want to implement your own VoIP or PBX system, most companies also have the staff to maintain them. That's why hosted solutions are becoming much more popular now I think for small businesses.

[armenh]

Yes I am very much familiar with non traditional and traditional phone systems. My father is in the phone system business thus I know a lot about it and can most probably easily solve your problem. Please email me directly with any question at armenharoutunian@yahoo.com
Also the way it should work is the dealer (which is us) would set up the phone system or in your case the VOIP settings and then all the consumer has to do is plug it in and put the phones and it would be working. Most VOIP products call for an IT Professional, thats the thing most businesses find VOIP helpful if they have multiple locations and have an IT person to handle the networking side of the system. I can propose a good solution for you if you just contact me and tell me what you really are looking for, my email address is already in the thread.

[just1guy]

I'm familiar with VoIP. The difference in the two solutions is that in the first, you purchase the IP PBX and place it on your site and in the second, the PBX is hosted by a third party with data lines to it. The hosted solution is sometimes a good way of getting into voice with a lower initial cost for small businesses and definately better from a mnagement standpoint unless you have a VoIP certified person on staff. The disadvantage is that it is a little harder to change providers, which is what they want. The only hosted provider I have dealt with before is Covad and MCI (now Verizon).

[CIsaac]

Yes I am very much familiar with non traditional and traditional phone systems. My father is in the phone system business thus I know a lot about it and can most probably easily solve your problem. Please email me directly with any question at armenharoutunian@yahoo.com
Also the way it should work is the dealer (which is us) would set up the phone system or in your case the VOIP settings and then all the consumer has to do is plug it in and put the phones and it would be working. Most VOIP products call for an IT Professional, thats the thing most businesses find VOIP helpful if they have multiple locations and have an IT person to handle the networking side of the system. I can propose a good solution for you if you just contact me and tell me what you really are looking for, my email address is already in the thread.

Thanks for the information. What about the adapter that I saw mentioned? And what about the calling while on your computer and out of town thing? Are you familiar with how that works? I can contact you...what company is your dad with or you can answer that later if you prefer...

[CIsaac]

I'm familiar with VoIP. The difference in the two solutions is that in the first, you purchase the IP PBX and place it on your site and in the second, the PBX is hosted by a third party with data lines to it. The hosted solution is sometimes a good way of getting into voice with a lower initial cost for small businesses and definately better from a mnagement standpoint unless you have a VoIP certified person on staff. The disadvantage is that it is a little harder to change providers, which is what they want. The only hosted provider I have dealt with before is Covad and MCI (now Verizon).

Thanks for the info! I'll check out Covad.

I don't have much experience with them, but from what I have heard and read, if you want to implement your own VoIP or PBX system, most companies also have the staff to maintain them. That's why hosted solutions are becoming much more popular now I think for small businesses.

Thanks. It's what I've heard too. The staff and cheaper thing is what caught my attention. I'm trying now to weigh the pros and cons of paying cheaper...

[just1guy]

And what about the calling while on your computer and out of town thing? Are you familiar with how that works?

The phone on the computer is just a soft phone. It's a piece of software that acts like an IP phone.

You can use VoIP while out of town two ways:
1) Bring your phone and connect to the network through a VPN.
2) Forward unanswered calls to your cell or home phone.
The second way is more popular with people on the move, the first with people who have a home office, but come into the office for a day or two. The first one is more suseptable to interference. With the second you can set a call down list where it will first try the VoIP line, then your home, then your cell, etc.

[armenh]

Thanks for the information. What about the adapter that I saw mentioned? And what about the calling while on your computer and out of town thing? Are you familiar with how that works? I can contact you...what company is your dad with or you can answer that later if you prefer...

I am unsure of what adapter you are talking about? Do you mean a router to connect your system to the LAN? The calling from your computer is through a softphone, which is a software that is downloaded to your computer and connected to your VOIP phone system. Out of town, you can either forward your lines to either your softphone or your cell phone. Remember that you still have analog lines and digital lines. Personally if you are looking for a simple solution currently the best VOIP system out there is the Allworx systems, they have different number sized systems. The company name is Phone Lines Inc, you can contact my dad directly at hydook@phonelinesinc.com if you would like. Also you can connect through VPN but it is pretty costly.

[CIsaac]

Thanks for your help and input guys. Just1guy I think I'm liking the second option you listed on there too.

Armenh, I will contact you and your dad for more info. Thanks!