Hosted Solution 1

[HerpDerp]

Hi,

Was looking at setting up a basic hosted solution with an avaya server with sip trunks for our smaller 5-15 user clients. Do you think that is a worth while option? My boss is trying to find a cheaper solution (for them) so that we can beat the competition but he wants to stick with the Avaya Brand.

Good idea? Bad Idea?

Keep in mind I'm in South Africa so infrastructure sometimes leaves something to be desired. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[holdmusic34]

Why not an IP500v2 with different SIP services?

 

[smokinjoe2938]

The bad thing about a hosted solution is that you are always paying for this as with a purchase it is only a one time charge.

acss sme acis sme acss cm 5.2.1 acss cm and cmm acss aura messaging.

 

[amriddle01]

I would not use an IP Office as a hosted solution, it isn't fit for that purpose really

 

[HerpDerp]

@amriddle01 not even the server edition? I was recently at an avaya conference and they seem to be heading that way with the server edition. What do you think the Pro's and Con's would be? I only have two years experience with the Avaya PBX so your input is greatly appreciated. Do you think it would be worthwhile to go the Aura route and just bite the cost until it pays off?

@holdmusic34 Its long term. Server edition has a higher capacity than a 500v2 control unit.

 

[Westi]

For 20 users a server is like buying a bus to commute to work.
There is not a lot of stuff you cannot do with the basic IPO model and a VmPro but the price tag is less and the maintenance is also less. No moving parts like fans which was a big selling point for the IPO until they brought the server edition onto the market

Joe W.

FHandw, ACSS (SME), ACIS (SME)


“This is the end of the world, make sure to buy your T-shirt before it is too late"
Original expression of my daughter

 

[amriddle01]

You can't tenant it, you can't split the directory, you can't stop extn to extn calls between different customers (without consequences), some settings are system wide so you need to be careful what you change and when, it has limited MOH resources, it can't handle NAT very well or multiple NAT sessions to a single IP ....And it was never designed to do this, so no support from Avaya for issues that may arise specific to that type of scenario.

 

[tampasteve1]

I know that I do not post much at all (long time lurker), and my view holds little weight....but....if you are looking to really deploy a hosted solution and make money on it you will need to look at a model/system that can do NAT better and hopefully does not have the licensing fees the way Avaya does, not to mention support for what you are trying to accomplish.

IMO it would make more sense to follow what others have done and use a SIP system or branded system that is designed for an application like this. It may not be Avaya branded, but it will provide the application better IMO. Or stay out of doing it yourself and rep for a hosted company and just take the local network support from the customer and the commissions from the hosted company.

 

[Westi]

Most hosted solutions I come across use SIP phones and some sort of Asterisk based system.

tampasteve1 is absolutely right


Long time lurkers learn a lot and that is how we usually start out before we get into it and hunt for stars

Joe W.

FHandw, ACSS (SME), ACIS (SME)


“This is the end of the world, make sure to buy your T-shirt before it is too late"
Original expression of my daughter

 

[HerpDerp]

Thanks i appreciate all the input. Can't say I'm the biggest fan of asterisk based systems but I suppose that is the best/cheapest option to go for a hosted setup.

 

[tampasteve1]

Just to clarify, there are non Asterisk systems out there geared to this solution, but they may cost more up front...but provide more support too. For example, 3CX offers a solution where you can host up to 20 companies our of your office or data center off of a single Windows server with the correct 3cx system (3cx Cloud Server) on your end, I believe Adtran does a similar set up and I am sure there are other manufacturers that offer a system like this. I am not recommending either of those necessarily, but they are viable branded options other than Asterisk.

 

[HerpDerp]

How good is 3CX? I have had mixed responses from people who IMO have never actually used it.

Have you used it before? How does it compare to the IPO?

 

[tampasteve1]

Honestly, I have only actually seen two in service. One customer was just using it as their voice mail and a way to connect two sites together and had an NEC for their system. The other customer had it as their system but did not care for it and replaced it with an IP Office. That said, it seems to be like most systems - if you have a competent person installing and servicing it your customers will be happy. If you have an inexperienced installer and they have poor network infrastructure they will not be happy. But as with all VoIP systems it relies heavily on the network, so you need to have data network knowledge and have a decent network to support it.