[Asterisk-Users] What business IP phone to use

[Bob McDowell]

True, but managed switches fail too.  My suggestion, buy two cheap ones,
and keep one in the box... 


Bob McDowell

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Colin
Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 5:40 PM
To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion'
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] What business IP phone to use

>How does one justify the extra cost of a managed switch for an office 
>of no more than 5-10 users with limited SMB file sharing and 
>lightweight internet access going over the thing? It's just not doable.

>In larger organizations, I agree entirely, a managed switch *is* worth 
>its weight in gold, but not for small businesses.

Simple formula:

1. Total Revenue
2. % of revenue derived from phone usage 3. =Cost of downtime by using
SoHo or consumer gear. 

It's not a question of if a SoHo or low cost device will screw up, it is
a question of when. This is 23 years of experience talking.

Where I work, the value of #3 above is $16 Cdn a *second*. We are below
500 employees, so we fall into the SMB segment. Sometimes I'm appalled
by statements that a $700 switch or a $400 phone isn't worth it. Huh??
Maybe in your home office, or whatever, but in any kind of meaningful
business context, you *always* buy the best, and you only cry once. If
you argue that your business can't support that kind of cost (which is
really, actually quite cheap. Anyone remember $6000 switches? I do.)
then perhaps you may want to re-evaluate whether it's appropriate to use
VoIP in your business in the first place. 

Sure, a managed switch is not a silver bullet - but it is part of a
quality implementation that *is* a silver bullet. Weakest link, and all
that. 

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