Need Advice: Upgrade or not?

[dschartung]

Hi,
We are a fledgling non-profit with 70 or so telephone users.
Currently we have a 2000 IVS (5 years due for software upgrades) PBX
and a Nupoint Messenger Voice Mail Server Model 70

We want the AD-8 Voive Mail and I would like to upgrade to the most recent software for the IVS so we can set ring rates for individual extensions. Matworx would be nice too.

Telecom Vendor states that IVS is end-of-life and we should upgrade to 2000 IPS with the AD-8.

Option 1: software upgrade and AD-8: parts+labor $9700
Option 2: IPS + AD-8: parts and labor: $19000

Even though IVS is end-of-life, can we manage another 5 years on this switch?(we are on our 6th year now) With option 2 we get 1 year labor and 5 years of parts warranty. Of course, if our switch dies (2 years from now) on option 1 we have nothing and have to go with option 2. I would hate to put 9k in now and have to drop 19K later.

A third option is Asterisk and new softphones $12000 or so. Our telcom vendor does not touch Asterisk, nor does anyone else in Nashville.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
Thanks,
Derek

 

[OzzieGeorge]

The IVS is upgradeable to an IPS by changing the processor and from time to time NEC run specials. It would be worth contacting NEC direct to see what is truly available.

 

[jhenke]

It also depends on how you use your phone system. The IPS has more features than the IVS. You can get MATWorX Studio from your vendor, but they will have to special order it from NEC.

The problem with an end of life system is that NEC doesnt like giving support on them. They usually make you upgrade before they will talk to a technician. From the technical standpoint it is best for the upgrade.

The NEC switches are very reliable and should last for a long time. Ozzie hit it on the head, NEC usually offers specials for upgrades; you can tell your vendor you are interested in an upgrade, but want to wait until it is worth your while.

You can talk about us, but you can't talk without us.

http://www.bbns-va.com/

 

[dschartung]

Thanks guys. Looks like NEC is rolling out a special on the AD-16 in November so we may wait till then.

Cheers,
Derek

 

[soleman52]

Derek
Your ivs will last for another 6 yrs,
and you can get service on it from any nec vendor
Nec is trying to make sales. I worked for them for 11 yrs.

Maybe if you spend your money on your data backbone in the next year and then go to viop,,,, youll be ahead of the game .
the 2000 ips will get you up to late 90's

Good luck

 

[dschartung]

We bought the IVS new in 1998. By data backbone you mean lan connectivity? We have a 60 acre campus with 50% fiber between buildings and rest is cat5e and xDSL (Cisco LRE)