Digital vs IP phones on new Avaya IP Office install

[Boxer77]

We are looking to get an IP Office system installed at one of our middle schools. We are considering a number of options such as leaving the existing analog phones in the classrooms to save money. One of the other issues that came up is the debate between digital sets and IP sets for the office staff. The higher ups went to go all IP because they don't want to pay for "old technology". The contractor doing the work recommended that we stick with digital sets since the cable is already run and they are more cost effective. He says that there really is no difference between the two models other than the way they plug in. As the network engineer I am kind of siding with him because I don't want to be adding a bunch of extra IP addresses to an area that is already full.

What is your opinion? Is there an advantage to going with IP phones if the phone cabling already exists?

 

[overthebars]

Hey Boxer,
It is true that the most phones are available through IP or Digital sets. We provide telephone service for schools in our area and the IP Office is a perfect candidate especially if, in the future, would like to set up the entire school system on a Small Community Network for 4 digit dialing between schools. We have used IP sets in the school system we service because here in Georgia, lightning loves our phone systems. Most schools have multiple buildings and, with the old systems, connected with buried copper between them which let to damaged equipment from lighting back feeding to the system. We went with IP phones fed via fiber and it helped out tremendously. Also, what do you use for paging? We have pulled out old Bogan paging systems and just used the phone system to offer paging throughout the school and handle zone paging as well. I guess it all boils down to cost and preference. Very few schools now days don't have multiple data drops in the classrooms so you could actually let the IP Office be it's own network and not interfere with the data network. The only time you would need to cross over to the data network is if you are planning on a receptionist using Phone Manager, Receptionist Software, or One-X Portal. Hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[mpisano]

In my opinion that's the beauty of IP Office; the ability to do both. As a hybrid system you can have local analog sets around the school and possibly IP sets at remote buildings or even areas that your current analog wiring doesn't extend. You can even have digital sets at multiple sites each attached to a local IPO and the systems linked via IP across the Internet.

Personally, even if the school was wired with cat5 I would still go with digital, there is no reason to spend the extra money on IP sets, needed licenses and POE switches for a local site. As far as "old technology" - they are both wired phones, just the protocol is different. These sets aren't "Analog" they are "Digital", just not using TCP/IP, features are 99% the same (if local) and I think the voice quality is better on the digital. If you think buying IP sets are going to be any better in the future, im sure after H323 is gone and future version of SIP come out that you will be throwing out your 10 to 20 year old IP phones too. Not to mention, IP phones even though thought of as generic, most systems are customized for each model due to features, displays and buttons. Good luck finding future System X to support your old Avaya IP sets without problems, we have enough problems today getting them working without grief.

My 2 cents,
Mike

 

[tlpeter]

IP phones can be run on the same network as data.
It saves extra cabling.
IP range is nonsense as it should have its own VLAN and range.
Digital requires digital ports.
It is just what is needed and what it will cost.

BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!