New Phone System Recommendations.

[Top Hat]

We need a new phone system as ours is obsolete and beginning to show its age.

Ideally it should be:
* Expandable up to 6 incoming lines (2 at present)
* Able to use phones and headsets
* Easy to move (If possible) as we're in rented at the moment but looking to move.

Don't need any fancy features.

Quite like the idea of using the computer network as the whole place is networked (and so will any new place) if this type of kit exists.

Any recommendations?

[TWD-Tony]

www.voipfone.co.uk The owner is a member of UKBF and the features are amazing :D

[Richard Conyard]

BT do a cheap rented option which is pretty vanilla and inexpensive.

[Stephen]

I believe the Panasonic systems are pretty good...
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/telephone-systems-home/index.htm

but personally I'd probably go with a BT FeatureLine - the only downside for you is there minimum contract. Might be worth having a chat with them, but they do have a tendancy to hold you to a contract at a specific location (i.e. if you're moving withing 12 months, there might be a penalty).

If it's renting hardware, I suspect that wouldn't be a problem, but FeatureLine is a software solution. Very good though...
www.bt.com/featureline/

[Stephen]

Oh and if you want to get carried away...

http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000456

[JoyDivision]

I am currently researching VIOP at the moment. I need to invest in a ATA convertor though as I am not not getting on that well with the softphone at the moment.

[cjd]

www.voipfone.co.uk The owner is a member of UKBF and the features are amazing :D

how kind :-)

Ideally it should be:
* Expandable up to 6 incoming lines (2 at present)
* Able to use phones and headsets
* Easy to move (If possible) as we're in rented at the moment but looking to move.

Don't need any fancy features.

Quite like the idea of using the computer network as the whole place is networked (and so will any new place) if this type of kit exists.


You definitely should look at a VoIP network - it will save you a lot of money. Our Virtual PBX will do all that (and more) and you only need one incoming line. There's some info

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/PB_Virtual_PBX.php

PM me if you need any more info.

[TWD-Tony]

I am currently researching VIOP at the moment. I need to invest in a ATA convertor though as I am not not getting on that well with the softphone at the moment.

Me too!

Try contacting cjd on these forums - he knows his stuff :D

I am toying with the idea of a 802.11g wireless phone that will simply work with my wireless router setup... It's expensive but I love my gadgets :wink:

EDIT: He beat me to it! :lol:

[DuaneJackson]

I had a play with voipfone. It does look good. But I've not been able to work out if it's possible to have calls diverted to a BT land line and/or to have an analog PBX attached to the system.

The web interface doesn't do anything when i try to set divert. It's not like I'm a luddite, I program these kinds of sites for a living!

[JoyDivision]

I am currently researching VIOP at the moment. I need to invest in a ATA convertor though as I am not not getting on that well with the softphone at the moment.

Me too!

Try contacting cjd on these forums - he knows his stuff :D

I am toying with the idea of a 802.11g wireless phone that will simply work with my wireless router setup... It's expensive but I love my gadgets :wink:

EDIT: He beat me to it! :lol:

One thing I will say though is to rent an 0845 of a company so that you are free to change service providers should you need to. I don't like the idea of being locked into a company simply becuase I can't change my number.

From my limited experience of VIOP so far the voice quality is fine, I don't think customers will know any different.

A lot of people are against VIOP because its new technology, but in reality its not new at all, its just a recent concept for consumers and small business needs.

[cjd]

I had a play with voipfone. It does look good. But I've not been able to work out if it's possible to have calls diverted to a BT land line and/or to have an analog PBX attached to the system.


You can divert a call to any telephone anywhere - you just put the number you want to divert to into the box and submit it:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/index.php?action=Divert

I use it everyday so I know it works - it won't work if you've got no credit in your account of course ;-)

Not sure what you're trying to do with the analogue PBX but if you PM me I can have an engineer look at it.

[DuaneJackson]

My bad, not really spent enough time playing with it really.

I'm going to seitch over to it I think. Just takes a bit of getting used to!