IP Office Noob 1

[Zeknop]

Hi all,
I'm about to step in to the world of Avaya and wanted to get some opinions from techs who are familiar with it. I work for a company that has dealt primarily with Mitel and Inter-tel and we are now picking up Avaya IP Office. What are your thoughts about the product?
Is it a flexible system? How user friendly is the programming/interface?

I appreciate anyone input and suggestions

Thanks!

 

[tlpeter]

We do both Mitel and IPOffice and the Mitel is a good product but it a terrible to program.
The ipo is flexible and if it cannot be done one way then it will another way.
With a Mitel there is no other option
Button programming is just from the top to the button instead of bottom up or from right to left etc etc.
My opinion is that the IPO is way more flexible.
The only downside is that the Mitel does not need reboots for some changes that the IPO does need (like trunk changes)


BAZINGA!

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

 

[Zeknop]

Thanks for your input.

I agree the Mitel 3300/MCD is very cumbersome to program. Lots of little "gotcha's" hiding in there. The 5000 pruduct is much more user friendly and straight forward, but maybe not as powerful as the MCD.
Good to hear button programming is from top down, that always drives me nuts on the Mitel.

Whats the single most important thing I should know about the IP Office? I'm going to a basic certification class next week and would like to know what I'm getting in to!!!

Thanks again

 

[tlpeter]

Go to

http://marketingtools.avaya.com/knowledgebase.

When your company has a link id from Avaya then signup for SSO (single sign on) and then you have access to all kind of Avaya site's and software.

http://sso.avaya.com

BAZINGA!

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

 

[Westi]

tlpeter forgot one big thing
when you program in the IPO (program called Manager) then the help file is great (it used to be phantastic but they don't keep it updated it seems) it will bring you right where you pressed the Help button and you can read it without searching for it.
So if you press help in lines then it will bring you right there etc. rarely will you need any other documentation than this to program a system.


Joe W.

FHandw, ACSS (SME), ACIS (SME)

http://convergednetworks.ca

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

 

[holdmusic34]

What's the single most important thing I should know about the IP Office?

F1 (help) in Manager.

 

[1043]

Avay support cost alot of money so make sure you have a good distributor.

 

[Zeknop]

All good information, thanks everyone.
Love the F1 key,functions the same way with a Mitel 5000

 

[amriddle01]

You will find the explanations and detail better than the Mitel help files though, The Avaya is much more flexible than the 5000, easier to programme, much better for button programming (still haven't figured out WTF "user programmable keys" has to do with anything on the 5000) and easier from an end user perspective when it comes to recording announcments (single code to dial, no long winded menu navigation) and a single method for accessing VM (not 2 depending on if you have messaged or not). BUT the Mitel is better for NATd phones...much better, as in they work... unlike Avaya's attempt



"No problem monkey socks

 

[wingnutkev]

I'm not familiar with Mitel but one of my favorite things about IPO is short codes. It goes along with the flexibility mentioned above, basically you can make a feature code to do whatever you want or replicate a users previous training.

 

[Hovus]

Mitel 5000 is definitely more flexible than the IPO in incoming call routing. Just takes a bit of know-how, same as IPO. IPO is more flexible on outbound routing. Button programming is way easier on IPO, User Rights is the best templating system out there, I find. Remote phones are garbage on IPO, requiring VPNs for any kind of stability. 5000's port forwarding, even 3300's MBG is the way to go. IPO's hardware is definitely better and more reliable than the 5000's. Ability to flash firmware on stuff is nice. IPO doesn't require you to download and install every single software revision to program which is huge! Download the latest and greatest and you're pretty much set on IPO. Each has its pros and cons, but if you're coming from an Intertel/5000, you're not going to have any trouble at all.

I have dreamed a dream, but now that dream has gone from me.

 

[amriddle01]

You really think call routing is better on the 5000? I think it's more restrictive



"No problem monkey socks

 

[IPGuru]

Whats the single most important thing I should know about the IP Office? I'm going to a basic certification class next week and would like to know what I'm getting in to!!!

Don't even think Basic mode (also known here as Muppet mode)

+2 for the F1 key


A Maintenance contract is essential, not a Luxury.
Do things on the cheap & it will cost you dear

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

I'm not very familiar with the IP Office, but from what I have seen, it seems like a great system!

ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[Westi]

HSM did you already hit the pub?

Joe W.

FHandw, ACSS (SME), ACIS (SME)

http://convergednetworks.ca

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

 

[Zeknop]

All this is encouraging, I like the sound of it. Looks like I will be in Chicago Monday to start training.

Thanks again everyone

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

Nah - I just wanted to be exceptionally sarcastic!

ACSS - SME
General Geek