Rachelle

We have several issues with VoIP in general. But to make a long answer succinct I will say that VoIP is not ready for a call center environment. VoIP is still being 'sold' and is not ready for all of the features that are claimed. Cisco has several claims but, they can't show us current customers that have implemented some of their more esoteric claims. Be very clear in your purpose. Keep in mind that several companies have either completely dumped the VoIP option or have opted for a hybrid PBX/VoIP environment. Between Cisco and Nortel, they both have a long way to go before this new little toy will really out perform, out produce, and be a step up rather than a step back from the PBX.

Do your homework. This isn't an easy decision to make.


rlc

jsak

the company i work for is going to a VoIP system when we move to a new building in ~14 months. They are building the building so they figure it would be the best time to move to a new phone system.

we are going with a CISCO system right now, unless they change their minds, nothing is set in stone yet.

Icy

Take a look at this http://www.pbxinfo.com/index.php?nam...c&t=4 352.

I´d go for Nortel. I´ve been testing it and it works great.
I use I-Remote and softphone, no problems.
I´m running 61C. Rls 25.40b.
Of course the IT guys are voting CISCO that´s all they know.
Rachelle is right it´s not quite ready yet.

bwells

Its not a call center environment. Its a college campus. The student dorms would stay pots, while business offices would migrate. I'm looking at a test bed of about 5 phones, to be implemented this summer. I understand the technology is still being fine tuned, thats why I'm asking for opinions from people with experience using it. the idea of soft phones is very appealling to us.

Rachelle

Take the lead from Icy. Stick with Nortel and let Cisco's technology mature. If a platform is not as feature rich, not as stable, not as easy to maintain, not as easy to use then it's not a platform that is realistic. This isn't a matter of comfort zone with the Nortel. I think it is immature as well. But, in the environment that you discribe, Nortel would be able to meet your needs more fully and with a more fluid implementation that Cisco.... at this time.


rlc

bwells

Please elaborate. I figured Nortel would be better because it was designed by Nortel to work with Nortel. Thus resulting in a cleaner integration with more reliability. Could you tell me why, or point me to studies, stating why Cisco is not as stable or easy to use. What my goal here is to make a case to the CIO why one is better or worse for our needs.

Rachelle

Be aware of who the sponsor and or the author is of any study you read. Many times sales manuals are foisted off as real-world studies. Cisco maintains that they achieve five nines. If you read in say, Network World Fusion, you will see that a lot of companies are running away due to the lack of five nines. Try going to the website for that mag. I don't know how friendly they are. I don't know what your access to old articles will be but, if you answer some question right you will get a free subscription. It is a wonderful resource and tool. The web address is www.nwfusion.com. Also, search this message board and the PBXinfo board for other discussions heald on this topic. You should be able to build a pretty good business case why you don't want to through good money after bad. The New York Times technology section also has covered this topic.


rlc

mark@stjoes

What a great question!!! Make sure you keep us posted on how you are doing with the migration. I work in a large medical building. 2 large totally seperate companies currently sharing a 5 group Option 81C. One company is a clinic operates 8-5 for the most part. The other is a Hospital operates 24-7. The clinic is in the process of pulling off the 81 and going to CM at their new remote buildings and they are all tied to the 81. The 81 does all the switching currently. The hospital has upgraded the 81 to 25.40B and is going to Succession real soon. It now is also IP capable and are currently running about 20 IP phones. The question you have to ask yourself is when you upgrade your cisco switches are you going to be able to bring down some or all you phones. Currently routers and switches in the LAN are upgraded here every 3 years. In a company that operates 24-7 it is not possible to bring down the phones to do this. Also when they talk about 5 9s remember that nortel and cisco 5 9's are different. Nortel figures in upgrades and maint. into there formula where cisco does not (there are several white papers on the net about this topic). Also think about the OS, do you really trust windows yet? Another factor is are you moving into a new building or are you just going to throw away your investment in the 61 at your current building. The thing that would make the most difference however is if you are going to keep the 61 for analog ports and use the Cisco for IP phones which will replace your current Nortel phones. If that is the case you will have two seperate swiches and what happens if you want to have a IP phone and a Analog phone sharing the same DN (ie..overhead ringers or overhead ringing indicators) that can not happen any longer. Also a problem that we are having here is migrating the Cisco with overhead paging systems and also pocket paging systems. There is alot to consider but what made the hospital stay with the Option 81 is relieablility, the ablility of having anolog, merdian, and IP phones using the same switch, one CDP and one database. I will say MAC's are a little easyier with the CM however there are more key strokes on the Cisco and that is comparing it to System term of the 81 however if you use OTM they are equal there. Good Luck :wink:

bwells

mark, thanks a ton for your reply! I've heard of 5 nines and know what it means. my feeling is that its become a buzz word and is over used by sales people. Your reasoning for the Nortel vs Cisco is logical and fits my scenario. I have a 61c and remote 11c & MCR. I use DSC's. I think the argument of having 2 seperate switching system is great. I was under the impression the Cisco integrates with the Nortel. I assume you need 2 seperate vx mail systems as well?

Rachelle- thanks for the info on nwfusion, I'll check it out and try for the free subscription. I'm always looking for resources like that.