| When you're in a business there is a need to | | | | lines aren't going to be enough. You could run two |
| communicate. The need for communication becomes | | | | servers, but this isn't exactly the most efficient solution |
| more important and more expensive as your business | | | | out there. |
| expands. You think long and hard about this, and | | | | The Advantages of Cisco |
| you've considered many different possibilities. You | | | | -Unlike Avaya, the number of phones that you can |
| might have even considered using a cup and a string. | | | | have in your office is pretty much infinite. |
| Maybe you took it beyond the consideration point and | | | | -The system does feature video conferencing, which |
| actually implemented that strategy only to realise there | | | | is something that the former system did not. |
| wasn't enough string. Whatever your process was, | | | | -The phones are extremely well designed, both in |
| you've arrived at the conclusion that you need a brand | | | | terms of features and aesthetics |
| new phone system in your office. | | | | Disadvantages |
| The next question of course, is what type of | | | | -The servers are slightly outdated, running Windows |
| telephone system should you use? You know it's going | | | | 2000. Whether or not you like that is a call you will |
| to be expensive, and therefore it is an investment. | | | | need to make on your own. |
| What type of investment do you want to make? You | | | | -Phones must boot, meaning it could be a very long |
| know it's going to have to last for a very long time, and | | | | time before they're actually available for personnel to |
| there are two major contenders in the world of office | | | | use. |
| phones. These are Avaya and Cisco. How do you | | | | -Voicemail actually requires more than one server. |
| choose between them? It might be hard to decide, but | | | | Most likely you already know that servers take up |
| luckily we have a list of pros and cons compiled for | | | | space, so make sure you can afford both the space |
| you. | | | | and the servers. |
| The Advantages of Avaya | | | | The phone system that you ultimately choose is |
| -High quality phones | | | | entirely up to you of course. What you will need to do |
| -Conference joining is simple | | | | is take your needs and the needs of your company |
| -System can use 4 PRI's (Primary Rate Interface) to | | | | into account, whilst factoring other major obstructions, |
| save more money than with POTS. | | | | notably budget. Some of the things that you will need |
| -Reasonably inexpensive | | | | to consider obviously are the size of your company, |
| Disadvantages | | | | the amount of space you have, and of course, your |
| -The system does not use Video Conferencing. If this | | | | budget. Think about these things and debate them with |
| is something that you were counting on then you | | | | the other members in your company or corporation. |
| should probably consider some of the alternatives. | | | | Keep in mind that this is a huge investment, one that |
| -There is a limit on the phone extensions that you can | | | | you are not likely to soon forget, but may well regret if |
| have. It's not a problem if you're dealing with a small | | | | you choose the wrong system. Make sure you get the |
| office, but for larger buildings, two to three hundred | | | | right one! |