Discussion
Does anyone have experience of this?
Is it cheaper/better than normal telephone lines? Is it easier to manicpulate in terms of call waiting/diverting? I'm looking for a system for up to 8 people, but for some reason, telephone system sales staff try to steer me away from VoIP systems; I don't know why. A local chartered surveyor said that he thought a VoIP would be the prefrred solution for new offices for my law firm. Can anyone explain how a VoIP setup would work, and whether I should bother with analogue telephones? Do I need normal BT telephone lines in order to benefit from VoIP?
Is it cheaper/better than normal telephone lines? Is it easier to manicpulate in terms of call waiting/diverting? I'm looking for a system for up to 8 people, but for some reason, telephone system sales staff try to steer me away from VoIP systems; I don't know why. A local chartered surveyor said that he thought a VoIP would be the prefrred solution for new offices for my law firm. Can anyone explain how a VoIP setup would work, and whether I should bother with analogue telephones? Do I need normal BT telephone lines in order to benefit from VoIP?
The principal advantage of using VOIP is one of management. Whereas in a conventional scenario you need to maintain two networks (one for voice and one for data), with VOIP all your voice and data goes over the same network. Once a call goes outside your office, it will use the normal telephone network.
Traditional telephone systems will gradually become obselete. However, with only 8 people using the system, management really won't be an issue for you and I'd imagine the cost of the VOIP system will outweigh its benefits.
Traditional telephone systems will gradually become obselete. However, with only 8 people using the system, management really won't be an issue for you and I'd imagine the cost of the VOIP system will outweigh its benefits.
In addition management I'd add (the ability to easily have) features like home working and integration to office/CRM applications to the potential advantages of the right IP phone system (features which may or may not be relevant to your needs?). At 8 users you were historically on the small side for big name IP telephony system vendors so that may account for the reluctance of those salespeople but the latest products scale down nicely offering complete office in a box style solutions so I'm surprised you haven't found someone to explain it all. I try not to pitch here but my company does this for a living so if you want some advice then please email me.
We were looking at getting VoIP, but so far have decided not to.
Having had conversations with people that use VoIP systems, I have personally found it a real pain. There is always a delay when you're speaking, so it's very uncomfortable. Rather like talking to someone with a bad handsfree set, or telephoning someone in Nigeria (except you haven't won a cash prize
).
I imagine the cost saving and versatility are great, but until it can be made to work like a normal telephone, then I feel the benefits aren't great enough to warrant the change.
Or have I only had experience with badly set up systems?
Having had conversations with people that use VoIP systems, I have personally found it a real pain. There is always a delay when you're speaking, so it's very uncomfortable. Rather like talking to someone with a bad handsfree set, or telephoning someone in Nigeria (except you haven't won a cash prize
).I imagine the cost saving and versatility are great, but until it can be made to work like a normal telephone, then I feel the benefits aren't great enough to warrant the change.
Or have I only had experience with badly set up systems?
jacobyte said:
Or have I only had experience with badly set up systems?
Quite possibly by the sound of things. But any IP application's performance is only as good as the underlying network will allow it to be. If you need the flexibility and features of an IP system then don't be put off by your experiences. A properly deployed business class solution would deliver. However, if you just want cost saving then don't immediately look toward VoIP as the saviour. There's no need to change a phone system just to get cheaper calls.We had a few problems with outr but seems to be awesomely good. We run something like 6k users including our call centres on it. Of course, we do slightly own the trunks, technology etc being as we are a telecoms company! I know a couple of really good companies that can advise you on this. More than happy to put you in touch. We wont unless you are really jolly large but I know a few excellant people in this area. Happy to give them a call for you and see if they can assist.
Hi all!
My business is a small company, with only a handful of staff. It would be quite easy to be "oversold" a telephone system, which is more than necessary for our needs, but having started this thread and heard what people have to say, I'm certain that a conventional telephone system is more than necessary for our needs. Thanks all for your input,
Rich
My business is a small company, with only a handful of staff. It would be quite easy to be "oversold" a telephone system, which is more than necessary for our needs, but having started this thread and heard what people have to say, I'm certain that a conventional telephone system is more than necessary for our needs. Thanks all for your input,
Rich
RichBurley said:
Hi all!
My business is a small company, with only a handful of staff. It would be quite easy to be "oversold" a telephone system, which is more than necessary for our needs, but having started this thread and heard what people have to say, I'm certain that a conventional telephone system is more than necessary for our needs. Thanks all for your input,
Rich
It's also remarkably easy to buy a system which will prove to be a dead end should you expand by a couple of staff, or add another office etc. If I was buying for a small office I'd buy IP Telephony as the technology but use standard BT/whomever lines as the PSTN access. The best of both worlds and no extra cost.My business is a small company, with only a handful of staff. It would be quite easy to be "oversold" a telephone system, which is more than necessary for our needs, but having started this thread and heard what people have to say, I'm certain that a conventional telephone system is more than necessary for our needs. Thanks all for your input,
Rich
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