Will this phone system do my laundry and shine my shoes at that price?
November 14, 2014 10:01 AM Subscribe
What and why is the difference between a $5000 PBX system for our office and one costing $1600?
We have been looking to replace our ancient PBX. We were quoted $5400 + $1700 in labor for a super slick fully featured system, The Univerge SV9100. This thing is cool and does everything. Office Depot however has this XBlue system at a significantly lower price, $1400.
So why the huge difference? Sure there are many features on the SV9100 but many would be helpful but not a necessity. I don’t really want to set up and maintain the Xblue system, I’ve got other things to do and I’m sure the system might not last as long but those are the only real drawbacks I can think of.
I am always weary when a product is so much less expensive than another and I believe in buying quality and paying more for it but not when the price tag is in the thousands and a 260% increase. I definitely do not want crap.
We currently have 6 analog lines and DSL.
What do you think? Why the big price difference. Thanks!
So why the huge difference? Sure there are many features on the SV9100 but many would be helpful but not a necessity. I don’t really want to set up and maintain the Xblue system, I’ve got other things to do and I’m sure the system might not last as long but those are the only real drawbacks I can think of.
I am always weary when a product is so much less expensive than another and I believe in buying quality and paying more for it but not when the price tag is in the thousands and a 260% increase. I definitely do not want crap.
We currently have 6 analog lines and DSL.
What do you think? Why the big price difference. Thanks!
we have an nec phone system.
it's a full unified communication system that lets people assign where their phone number rings (including a laptop). it integrates with our AD user directory. voicemails show up in our email and are marked read/deleted if we read and delete them there. chat availability can be updated based on your calendar. the chat client has screen-sharing integrated and can also connect via voice. all of these features depend on what you license/setup.
the XBlue system is just a bunch of VOIP phone and a switch for them.
so the short version is 'it's the difference between a flip phone and a smart phone'
posted by noloveforned at 10:39 AM on November 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
it's a full unified communication system that lets people assign where their phone number rings (including a laptop). it integrates with our AD user directory. voicemails show up in our email and are marked read/deleted if we read and delete them there. chat availability can be updated based on your calendar. the chat client has screen-sharing integrated and can also connect via voice. all of these features depend on what you license/setup.
the XBlue system is just a bunch of VOIP phone and a switch for them.
so the short version is 'it's the difference between a flip phone and a smart phone'
posted by noloveforned at 10:39 AM on November 14, 2014 [2 favorites]
Start with: What do I need the phone system to do?
Then buy what you need.
That $7,500 system may very well take an ISDN T-1, do cost accounting, offer ports for conference calling and a bunch of other shit you don't need.
OTOH, do you want VOIP phones? Do you have an internet connection capable of supporting voice and data? (If you're using DSL, I'm guessing....no.)
Used to be a thing called a hybrid PBX. It had 8 phone lines, a receptionist console and 8 phones.
Frankly, if you're asking these questions, you need a phone system integrator's help. A good phone system integrator will assess your business, help you determine what you need from a phone system, and get you one that's easy to install and maintain.
Who is your IT person? What does he/she suggest? Do they know someone who does phones.
I recommend something like this for you. It's analog and has expansion ports should you ever need them. It looks pretty freaking easy to install too.
But for what you're describing don't go to VOIP for your office. You will hate it and there are very few cost savings to be had with it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:55 PM on November 14, 2014
Then buy what you need.
That $7,500 system may very well take an ISDN T-1, do cost accounting, offer ports for conference calling and a bunch of other shit you don't need.
OTOH, do you want VOIP phones? Do you have an internet connection capable of supporting voice and data? (If you're using DSL, I'm guessing....no.)
Used to be a thing called a hybrid PBX. It had 8 phone lines, a receptionist console and 8 phones.
Frankly, if you're asking these questions, you need a phone system integrator's help. A good phone system integrator will assess your business, help you determine what you need from a phone system, and get you one that's easy to install and maintain.
Who is your IT person? What does he/she suggest? Do they know someone who does phones.
I recommend something like this for you. It's analog and has expansion ports should you ever need them. It looks pretty freaking easy to install too.
But for what you're describing don't go to VOIP for your office. You will hate it and there are very few cost savings to be had with it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:55 PM on November 14, 2014
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posted by julthumbscrew at 10:37 AM on November 14, 2014