Which Hybrid PBX?

[unicorndreams]

We've been quoted on NEC Aspire, Avaya IP Office and Aastra Intelligate. All 3 systems are much the same in features but NEC I've heard described as the Dinky Toy of the telephony world, Avaya has mixed reviews and appears to be static in market place whereas the Aastra had 28% market growth 2005-2006 yet I can find no reviews on them - anyone had any experience on these systems?

 

[disturbedone]

What country are you in?

The NEC Aspire isn't a true NEC. It was made by Nitsuko and competed at the low end with the NEC Xen. So NEC bought Nitsuko to stop the competition!! NEC's are extremely good systems, so reliable. I'm not sure about the Aspire as this all happened after I stopped working on the bigger NECs. As far as I know they're a reasonable system but they're a bit like Panasonic...they do a pretty simple job and have no real problems but that's about it, nothing flash.

IP Office....my opinions on this have caused some controversy around here! In theory, they're a good system. They should work well. But unfortunately, they don't work as well as they should and if I was paying my hard earned money I would stay clear. Far, far, far too many bugs for my liking. The choice is yours on this one.

The Aastra (I'm assuming you're probably in the UK then?) is another system which I've had little to do with but from what I've read/heard it's a reasonable system that does it's job. They've got reasonably good support too. Up to 600 xtns on this one which beats expansion ability for the IPO easily.

It depends on what you want to do. What's the scenario it will be working in? How big? Likely expansion? Requirement for VoIP, AA, Voicemail, etc etc?

 

[unicorndreams]

Thanks - I am in the UK, I think Aastra also goes by the name Ascom in some countries.
We currently have an aging Norstar Meridian with 70 extensions and 30 agents on an ACD. We will need at least this on the new system, possbily double and we will also need to put in an outbound call centre with a predictive dialler (but thats another project altogether!). We use hunt groups, LDR, AA, voice mail too. No requirement for VOIP yet but wanting to keep my options open hence the hybrid system.

 

[hawks]

Have you looked at the BCM? That way you could use the same handsets that you already have.

 

[unicorndreams]

Yep, we did look at that, BT advised against it as they said we'd be running it too close to capacity, they recommended Cisco IPFX or Avaya IP Office instead, but I'd rather not go with BT as their customer support is diabolical

 

[disturbedone]

I doubt you'll get a true ACD ability on an Aspire, not sure about the Aastra, and although you can get a package on the IPO the stability lets it down. Although the first 2 can distribute calls to agents, the ability to have supervisors report, watch real time stats, etc which you'd probably want with a call centre of that size, probably wouldn't be able to be done.

As Hawks points out, the Nortel BCM is an option and you could use existing handsets.

Another option you might want to look at is the Tadiran Coral (thru Diacom) which could do what you want and more. The same hardware/software from 2-6000 users whereas the BCM is a completely different product once you get bigger, much like the Avaya.

Plenty of options out there. Do some Googling to find out details too.

 

[Lundah]

Mitel will allow you to keep your existing handsets as well, via a CITELink gateway. They've got a pretty solid IP product, and are huge in the UK.