Replace digital phones with SIP phones

[telebub]

Good Morning! As a traditional TDM guy, I'm still a little fuzzy on IP Telephony and have a request to determine what we would need to do to replace current digital phones on the desk with SIP phones.

We're currently running CS1000m-MG (Option 81c) on 7.5 with a Signaling Server/Media Card. The only IP we're currently utilizing are some 2050 softphones that we as telecom administrators use.

What licenses would we need to add to the CS1K for SIP phones? Do we need to do anything or add anything to the Signaling Server? There's no plan to convert PRIs to SIP trunking so we're only interested in SIP phones at the desk. Here's our current SLT:

TRADITIONAL TELEPHONES 2880 LEFT 1040 USED 1840
DECT USERS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
IP USERS 8 LEFT 5 USED 3
BASIC IP USERS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
TEMPORARY IP USERS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
DECT VISITOR USER 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
ACD AGENTS 2442 LEFT 681 USED 1761
MOBILE EXTENSIONS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
TELEPHONY SERVICES 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
CONVERGED MOBILE USERS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
AVAYA SIP LINES 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
THIRD PARTY SIP LINES 0 LEFT 0 USED 0

PCA 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
ITG ISDN TRUNKS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
H.323 ACCESS PORTS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
AST 1764 LEFT 70 USED 1694
SIP CONVERGED DESKTOPS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
SIP CTI TR87 0 LEFT 0 USED 0
SIP ACCESS PORTS 0 LEFT 0 USED 0

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Which Sip phones are you upgrading to?

"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"

http://www.joetheucxguy.com

 

[telebub]

Looking at the 1140E. These will be Contact Center agents.

 

[KCFLHRC]

Why do you want to make an 1140e a SIP phone instead of unistim?

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Unistim firmware seems to offer far more features and is more solid on the CS1K. SIP is the latest thing, but Unistim is still available and supported. Is SIP supported with Contact Center? That's something I am a bit ignorant about.

"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"

http://www.joetheucxguy.com

 

[telebub]

Only reason I know of is because of the Witness Call Recording server. Currently Witness resides on Windows 2003 Server which is almost out of support by Microsoft. Verint supplied quotes to upgrade as is versus upgrade and use SIP technology. The SIP quote apparently was MUCH cheaper than upgrading as is. Customer wants to see if migrating all users to SIP would still be cheaper than upgrading as is.

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Interesting, let me know how it turns out. The 1140E's work ok as SIP phones, but are somewhat limited in features. I've only tested them on third party servers and IP Office though and maybe the Avaya guys gave them more functionality since they are on an Avaya Cs1000 Server.

"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"

http://www.joetheucxguy.com

 

[mjwald]

I converted an 1120 to SIP, it was defiantly lacking in some features.
I think your users would be very un-pleased with the operation of the phones.

 

[telebub]

Thanks guys. I'll pursue the Unistem option and see where that goes.

 

[hawks]

correct me but don't you also need Session Manager to run SIP phones from the CS1000?

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Unistim Phones are SOLID on the CS1000, BCM and UCx from E-MetroTel.

SIP definitely has it's place, but I know that even Avaya buffs recommend running H.323 protocol on the Avaya 9600 IP Phones because SIP still has it's issues.

Sometimes it's best to stick with the proprietary IP protocols until they are absolutely not supported anymore. My Opinion.

"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"

http://www.joetheucxguy.com

 

[telebub]

Hawks, I was thinking Session Manager was only needed for SIP Trunking. But I could definitely be wrong.

I agree Gordon. I was just specifically asked about SIP so I was running that rabbit. As for E-MetroTel, we became an authorized distributor and sold one to a customer that wanted basically a square key system like a traditional Norstar. We were unable to make it function as a square key system and tech support was unable as well. The customer was extremely unhappy and we pulled it out. Haven't sold another one since.

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Hi Telebub, how recently did you install the EMT switch?

A square key system setup is now offered, especially for picking up lines and line management. I am really surprised they weren't able to make this function, especially since it's now offered.

Was your customer wanting to select direct lines to dial out or were they wanting to pick up shared lines on a phone? I assume they didn't want to just pick up the phone and start dialing, they wanted to press a line key first? I know Sideline Telecom in Niagara Falls area of Ontario is installing squared UCx switches to various former Norstar customers.

If you have users who like their M2616 sets and M3900 sets, you'd be selling more of these UCx switches.....they support Meridian 1/CS1K interoperability now. I am using a M2616 next to a T7316...pretty cool.

"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"

http://www.joetheucxguy.com

 

[telebub]

Gordon, it was probably a year ago, maybe year and a half. I wasn't the tech performing the install but from what I understand, tech support did indicate that the ability to program a square key system would be available in a future release. I can only assume that future release is now available.

They were using T7316 sets (I think) and wanted the ability to have Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, etc all shared across phones.

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Darn, they have that now....oh well....maybe next time.

"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"

http://www.joetheucxguy.com