Is IP Office too small for our organization?

[agarm]

We have around 160 extensions (80 Analog, 80 Digital) a small call center with around 20 users, and 2 PRI's. We currently have a 8 port voicemail but would like to grow to 16 maybe? We are looking to be able to grow to at least 500+/- extensions.

I just get the funny feeling by reading many of the posts that the IP Office is geared more towards a small environment. Is this the case? Or are my feelings wrong? My vendor is telling me that the IP Office can be tied together if the limit is reached on ports. Is this true? Is it done very often? Has anyone had experience with IP Offices tied together. We are a single campus organization with no remote sites.

I'm Anthony and I approved this message!

 

[IPGuru]

IP office will currently expand to 360 users & 120 channels of ISDN (IP412 + 12 30 port expansion modules)
They can be networked using VoIP but this would not be an ideal soulution ( limits on the number of calls between systems, unable to include users from both systems in the same group)

In another 6 months Avaya will probably be releaseing the 424 systemn unit which should increase the capacity, I am unsure of the exact limits at the moment as not all 24 expansion modules will be available for extn's

 

[RafaB]

The reason you may have been proposed the IP Office is because the Avaya dealer you are speaking to is only accreditted to sell that system and nothing larger ie Avaya Multivantage or other manufacturer. I'm sure most people on this forum will agree that a solution of this size may demand more features than the IP Office is willing to offer. I suspect your suppliers are being a little greedy by wanting to keep the deal and try to win with IP Office. In truth the IP Office is probably not the right product for you as you will always be stretching it to its limits and with a system your size.

There may be many unforeseen problems with tying two systems together, if you are seriously considering IPO in this fashion then I would ask your vendor for some satisfied customers with several IPO's on the one site.

The IP Office is however a great product if you are wanting to keep the price down and have multi-site operations.

ps The Avaya Definity Forum on this site may prove a little more suitable as this will scale to 1000's of extensions quite simply.

Good luck with your search. Please post any further information if you would like any specifics answering.

 

[Morrack]

I'll dissagree with you Gerrard. Certainly the definity has some features the IPO does not - and the IPO has many features the definity does not.

There are many ways to get around limitations of networking multiple switches in a back-to-back environment - like putting all the extensions that need to be in a hunt group on the same control unit.

apost it's true that there are many more small installations of IPO currently than large, but this doesn't mean it won't fit your organization. It can grow to 500 extensions with SCN integration, but in fact you can go further than that using Q.Sig to join multiple SCN communities.

And finally there is price. IPO is much more economical, even more so than Magix if not deploying VoIP. And let's say a customer wants call-recording - free w/ VMPro, an arm and a leg for a limited solution on a definity platform. Or how about a customer paying an arm and a leg for conference bridge services? The ROI can become less than a year on IPO in this situation. Finally, if the customer wants IVR the IPO solution is very reasonably priced - and at this point I don't think they have any arms or legs left for conversant or a 3rd party unit.

Therefore, especially if the customer is currently below 360 extensions, needs any of the apps I mentioned above, or has budget restrictions (who doesn't?) I have and will continue to recommend IPO.

Peter

 

[Morrack]

in fact... *grin*.... just got word that we've closed a deal I was working on to replace an existing definity with IP Office... and we were able to bring it in for less than the cost of their end of lease buyout on the definity!