What is the most *cost effective* way to bring in 3-4 lines into a IPO

[chefwong]

4 Voice Lines

I'm currently looking at a couple of different options and doing research this weekend.

Analog Ports via local telco (Verizon) and just get the unlimited plan on one or 2 of the lines

ISDN PRI

VOIP Trunking termination via FXO port

Maybe......just maybeee (as I will need bandwidth as well) a flex T circuit.

 

[aarenot]

i do not reccomend any channel bank derived pots lines with the ipo. i would not implement one if i owned the phone system. in my opinion, it is just not an option.

my preference, partially because of experience is the pri circuit. po[ld]ts lines do not allow many of the myriad of new features which the ipo can display with modern circuits, or do not allow them to be used with any signifigance.
if conference bridge, forwarding users externally to cell phones, fax server applications are to be used via the ipo a circuit is the most effective way to do this.

knowing the industry, and proposed usage would help to determine which ipo features will profit the customers business, and so what to implement for a solution.

 

[1043]

I don't think 4 voice lines warrants a PRI. I would check with some of your local providers to see what your best deal is.
I do have a couple systems with "channel bank pots lines" and haven't had any trouble so far. They were pretty bad a couple years back but they have come a long way since.

 

[aarenot]

i would agree with, 4 lines not warranting a full pri.

i would also say that if conference bridge is required, 4 lines does not warrant a conference bridge as it does not offer enough lines/channels to support it, and other calls to the business at the same time. if they use an outsourced conference service this is an easy roi for the circuit.
the same goes for users who want to have option to fwrd, or connect callers to their cell phone via the ipo. not enough lines to support this and call volumes possibly.


the same for fax servers delivery to desk top not possible with the ipo without did's. it could also move the fax number to the pri, to eliminate one off system pots.

as well as if any remote ip phone users will be required. this will tie up the 4 pots lines as well.

another question is how many phones on the system, which will also help determine the proper number of lines/channels. if they add another analog line card in three months for lack of sufficient lines that changes the equation as well.

there are just features on the ipo which when utilized drive up the number of lines/channels that are sufficient to support them.

i would say, more informtaion is needed to determine what is best.

the channel banks have caused me to have 4 private builds to implement because of issues that arose. all of these on adit units i believe.

4 lines may be fine, but also may not be depending on application of the features of the ipo.

 

[kwing112000]

I am in the US and I have alot of customers using Partial PRI. You can get 6 or 8 channels of PRI and Data on the same line. Works great and not to expensive. In my area Verizon does not do this very well but most of the CLEC's do it and i have had very little issues.

 

[aarenot]

kwing,
i guess i did not make myself clear, that is exactly what i am talking about.

the telco is probably going to bring the service in on a circuit anyway, and break it out partially via channel bank to pots. why not have it broken out partially to pri, and get a myriad of abilities via pri instead of pots. 23 channels to allocate, try 8 for pri, and the rest for data.

with 4 pots, 2 incoming calls, with caller being transferred to users cell phone off site. the next inbound or outbound call is going to be a busy situation. no vm for incoming call, no line for outgoing.

pri w/8 channels, you still have 4 channels, and no busy situation yet. it would also allow for up to 8 external callers in a conference bridge, and a fax server to route inbound faxes to the users em account via their own personal did fax number. the old fax number could still be routed to an anlalog fax machine on a pots ext on the ipo via did. so much more flexible, and so mmany more features, and capabilities in the ipo this way.

cost may differ from the telco, but worth investigating the cost with the pay offs possible. the remaining channels should be enough data for the office. if the office requires more data than this, it probably has enough users to support more lines than 4 pots.

 

[mforrence]

If the question is "what is the cheapest" the simple answer is add an Analog/4 module and connect standard analog pots lines to it. This solution generally has the lowest initial and recurring cost for four lines. If you need services provided by other solutions then another solution may be appropriate.
Mike

 

[chefwong]

For all you telcom vendors out there....is there a SIGNIFICANT Voice Quality / Sound Quality Difference when going over a *digital* voice PRI circuit ?

 

[aarenot]

my issues with sound quality are almost none with pri, analog is a case by case basis, and can vary. weather, lightning strike, different telco support groups for pots vs pri have more of an effect on pots in my experience. this may be a reflection of the telcos in my area, etc. more so than inherent to the pots, or pri characteristics nationaly, or internationaly.

the circuits have tighter tolerances for wiring, and testing in most cases, and analog pots have more variance allowed by specs i believe.

 

[jml2665]

XO (and others) here is the US, now provide a slick converged solution using a pure internet T1 (1.5meg) with a Cisco box attached, this provides a PRI (23 channels) for voice and a static IP connection for data. Both services share the bandwith and of course if no one is on the PRI you get the full T1 internet speed both in and out. This setup can also have two T1's providing 3meg service.
So far I have had no issues with quality though I am not sure XO is the greatest at providing good customer service and would definatly advise to check out the other providers.

 

[aarenot]

any other providers you are aware of. looking at usa, midwest area.

 

[jml2665]

one of my customers who has this setup has asked AT&T if they could replace XO because of the customer service issues and they said they are working on on offer and might be ready within a few months, but nothing is ready today, I am not sure which other provider will offer it but since it's a great little setup I hope others will follow

 

[geek0]

In this part of the world (Oz) analog & BRI (NOT PRI) installation costs are almost identical PER SERVICE. Rental per voice cct is cheaper using BRI.

4 x analog service cost the same as 2 x BRI.

Then there is a saving on rental, AND you get ISDN functionality. Have use this on systems other than Avaya with good results too.