Nortel, Avaya, Mitel, or Samsung?

[agarm]

I am in the middle of an RFP, and we are selecting finalists this week. So far my picks are from the following 4 systems:

- Nortel Option 11c

- AVAYA IP Office 412

- Samsung iDCS 500? (I'm recalling from memory forgive me)

- Mitel SX2000

We have around 160 extensions with no remote offices, and a 20 person call center. Pretty simple setup, but we want options to more advanced features if the need arises. Can you guys please respond with thoughts (good or bad) about the systems listed? It would give me some piece of mind about making my decision. I would really appreciate any input.

I've been told by vendors that the hybrid key systems have no problem growing past thier max ports because the systems can be tied together. I am curious about how well this works in real world situations, and if there are any pitfalls to this. From my research the full blown PBX's are better suited for growth, but I am thinking the Option 11c may be overkill for our small operation. I really cant see us EVER having more than 500+/- ports in use, and that's worst case scenario. Is the Option 11 worth the extra money? Or should I stick with the hybrid-key systems? Again thanks for the input.

 

[paul144]

Unless you will be administerring the system yourself, it is at least as important as the system, if not more important, is the vendor and the support. I would ask around your local business community to find the out the quality and expense of service offerred by the various vendors.

 

[agarm]

I WILL be administering the system for the most part. I know the vendor is important, but I'm more curious about the systems themselves...


I'm Anthony and I approved this message!

 

[RafaB]

I noticed you in IPO forum as well.

I would say out of the systems that you are looking at the Option 11 is the most superior and you have probably noticed this too. My understanding is the SX2000 is being or has been superceded ? The Samsung tends to be deployed alot in very small applications, but not usually in an office of your size. However it tends to be very cheap.

The IPOffice as mentioned in my other post may not be big enough for your ultimate needs.

On the face of it you would think I'm pitching Nortel. However I would recommend also looking at Alcatel or Avaya Multivantage before making any decisions. If you would like any product information please do let me know and I'll forward to you. Please indicate the country where you are purchasing from though as products can change between territories.

 

[mikeyb123]

Look at the avaya as gerrardrules says. It's a good platform.

In the UK the avaya is a little more expensive so teh 11 wouldwin out which is as good.

Wouldn't the 11 be a succession?

It's not getting any smarter out there. You have to come to terms with stupidity, and make it work for you.

 

[Dunstan]

My advice would be a standard pro logix Definity platform (Rel 2) or if you are mnore ip centric and avaya s8300/g700 gateways.

For ease of administration functionality and quality imo you cannot beat the Avaya products.

Price wise both of those systems should be compatible, and would expand to your expected max capacity.

 

[NX01]

I would go Avaya. Although your choices listed are not apples for apples.

In the future everything will work...

 

[macphoneguy]

Well to put my 2 cents in. . . I've been Doing Support for a Sx-2000 for the last two years and and we are a Great Deal bigger then what you describe, (500+) I can Honestly say my "top 3" of the Choices would be Mitel, Avaya & Nortel, I would make sure that if you are going to be doing most of the Moves/adds/Changes that it is written in the RFP that you get the training/documentation from the Vendor,

 

[Maximizer]

Greetings! I have been involved with Interactive Intelligence's CIC for years; works great!!

Thanks



James Keep, A.C.E.
Crystal Reports(tm) Certified Consultant 8.5 (CRCC)
CMRC
Crystal Decisions Business Partner
Montreal, Qc, Canada

http://www.cmrc.qc.ca

 

[mikeyb123]

james,

Are you mad?

I worked with EIC and CIC and it was a complete ar*e - mind you I don't think that it liked the European way of working.....

Ever tried to get hold of a E1 channel bank that I3 supported?

It's not getting any smarter out there. You have to come to terms with stupidity, and make it work for you.

 

[NX01]

You should probably just go into each of the venders listed forums here at Tek Tips. Avaya has a large number of them, the rest may not.

In the future everything will work...

 

[mextera]

Okay,

Let me say I work on NEC (NEAX) equipment and find it the best HW out there. But in response to your request for 4 Mfg I think that the opt 11 is a solid hard working solution. But will have to keep an eye on what is available on the horizon for its growth and future SW releases since Nortel is saying they are dropping the MFG side. Avaya is nice but the real reason there is so many fourms and help locations is because it is crap and every one needs help with it!

Rod

 

[MonkAZ5]

I have worked with both the Avaya G3/Prologic and Meridian Opt 11/61C. Both provide you with dialtone and have many features. The one I would select though would be the Avaya for ease of administration.

Good luck!

 

[Dunstan]

Okay,

Let me say I work on NEC (NEAX) equipment and find it the best HW out there. But in response to your request for 4 Mfg I think that the opt 11 is a solid hard working solution. But will have to keep an eye on what is available on the horizon for its growth and future SW releases since Nortel is saying they are dropping the MFG side. Avaya is nice but the real reason there is so many fourms and help locations is because it is crap and every one needs help with it!

Rod"

Please take a look at card failures per line of NEC equipment versus any of the other large manufacturers. NEC has the highest hardware failure rate of any of them. I can provide links to the studies to show you.

Avaya and Nortel are both superior products. The real reason you see so many forums for Avaya is because it is far and away the most used platform.....hence more users....hence more help groups et al.

 

[IPGuru]

As a maintainer of a large number of Avaya IP Office systems I can say that this is a robust & reliable system probvided it is installed & maintained by competent engineers. It does have a simple programming interface (sometimes deceptivly simple) & is not dificult to configure but there are a few "Gotchas" that can cath out an inexperienced user.

 

[jerryreeve]

Dunstan
Is there a site that can give you the failure rates of multiple vendors like you are discussing above? I have been able to find some info in the past but nothing recent.

JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com

 

[ccmuser]

how complex are you looking to make your callcenter?

 

[bobmroz]

Some general thoughts...

If the systems are 'tied' together, you will have issues to overcome. You don't want to go down that road.

You should consider concentrating on the call center applications. What kind of reporting do you need? Real time monitoring for ACD managers? Make sure the vendor you key in on has supported your specific applications in the past. Visit a couple of their customers call centers.

Finally, another system to consider is the Inter-tel Axxess with Taske.

Bob

Applied Voice and Data (Used Phones For Less),

http://www.usedphonesforless.com

 

[paulsonpd]

SAMSUNG!!

I find Samsung to be THE most intuitive, easy to program system of those mentioned, and I work on 3 of the 4.

Their Systems are infinetly programmable, Others always have some limitation!

I end up just "talking" my clients thru MAC's (No Charge),
because of the Goodwill it builds. Please look hard at Samsung!

Patrick

When you need a little P&A

http://hometown.aol.com/paulsonpd/Business.html

 

[agarm]

We went with a Mitel, but not the SX-2000, we are going with the 3300ICP. I will keep you guys posted on how it goes...

I'm Anthony and I approved this message!