Is IP Office the Right Decision for Answering Service Co.

[stodjd]

With the mass numbers of equipment suppliers, I have been putting together a Legend System together with VM, outlook CTI integration and upgrades to Magix platform. I still lack good LAN integration and trying to get messages routed through various delivery systems.
I now run into a good IP Office system which I think can do a better job (esp. to look after itself if messages don't get through and operators that do not know what or is happening) than the present Merlin Legend System. My past backround has been mostly with Nortel systems so Avaya is relatively a whole new world!!

The answering service handles calls for clients, takes and delivers messages via text messaging, email, fax, voice (voice to email), alpha and numeric pagers. Account statistics and reporting a must. I am currently putting together a small MS 2003 server with five client computers for internet, office suites, screen pops, and so forth. I know the IP Office runs on NT which by having both servers, I can isolate the telephone LAN system from the internet and so foth. The following equipment has been offered for sale and having to make this quick decision I have to ask the greatest techs in the field which has been you guys at tek-tips. The equipment is presently equipped with:


Amount Item
1 IP406 Office - MU-LAW
1 IP400 Modem 2 Expansion Kit
1 IP400 PRI 24 T1 Expansion Kit
1 IP400 Analog 4 (LS) Expansion Kit
2 IP400 Digital Station 16
1 IP400 Phone 8
1 IP400 VoiceMail Pro RFA
1 IP400 ISDN RJ45/RJ45 3M Red
2 IP400 EXP RJ45/RJ45 1M Blue
4 IP400 Power Lead USA
1 System with VM for 11 - 25 Users
1 IP400 Feature Key
1 IP Office VMPro CD
4 IP400 Rack Mounting Kit
1 VOICE MAIL SERVER
1 6424D+ Digital Telephone
9 6408D+ Digital Telephones
4 6402 Digital telephones
1 9040 Transtalk Handset
1 Dual Radio Module (1 for 9040) Phones

Is this a good starting ground for IP Office and what other "modules" or upgrades would be needed? Is IP Office the right "system" or is there a better choice? Any suggestions would be paramount in selecting. adapting and growing in the future. The new business will be quite small with about 2-4 operators stations and adjoining "dispatch" operators for taxi, tows, and such.

The Avaya website is so "big" and trying to find answers to our special needs takes tremendous time to go though all the manuals and sales pitches.

Thanks,
Jim Stoddard
RK Services, Inc.

 

[IPGuru]

I would not bother with the modem unless you need to allow people to connect via dialin networking & an analog phone.

You may posibly be able to cope with VM light depending on your exact needs - VM light onlyt offers basic mailbox faciluties without Auto attendant or call recording.

The rj45 leads (red & blue) come with the relavant system modules , I hope they are not charging for them (the mains cords do not come with the units as the power brick is a universal model)

I would also suggest you would need CCC for the sort of reporting you require although the Foc SMDR package might suffice.

The IP office can be a deceptivly simple system & in the right hands can perform minor miracles, however inexperianced programmers have been know to create disasters on over specified systems for the task