I'm having a very hard time justifying trying to sell this to the SOHO
market on price or parity with key systems. I've installed key
systems and large scale PBXs, and while working around the SLA problem
isn't that hard, the price point for a key system is very hard to
compete with. I've never understood why people would want to use
an SLA system, honestly, as it's a really poor model. I hate
sitting in offices with constant paging "Call for blah, line 1".
The PBX model to me is much more preferable, and working around it is
simply a training problem.<br>
<br>
The problem with asterisk isn't the lack of SLA, it's the price
point. It's going to be very hard for IP phone vendors to compete
on price at this point, and so far the quality issues in low-priced
hardware to me means I can't really sell this to anyone who's not
willing to pay $200-$300 a phone (retail).<br>
<br>
Not that it's impossible, it's a different sales strategy.
Perhaps people who are wanting to sell this to the SOHO market should
attempt to change the game, as PBX like functionality doesn't exist in
the SOHO market because it hasn't been affordable previously.
Asterisk systems are pretty cheap in terms of the features they offer,
such that the sales pitch really depends on cost for features and
maintenance and infrastructure savings rather than overall cost.<br>
<br>
Admittedly though, the voicemail system's navigation issues are a big problem.<br>
<br>
Clint<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 2/18/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">John Novack</b> <<a href="mailto:jnovack@stromberg-carlson.org">jnovack@stromberg-carlson.org</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<br>Many very low cost hybrid key/pbx systems for the small business SOHO<br>market have 12 or more programmable buttons, so regardless of what is<br>done with Asterisk, until the IP phone manufacturers take off their<br>
blinders and manufacture competing equipment, this market will be out of<br>reach. These same systems now have voice mail systems with capabilities<br>and features that make Comedian Mail the correct name. Asterisk isn't
<br>alone regarding these shortfalls, of course. IP phone system designers<br>have failed to understand the small business market for several years.<br><br>Defensive responses with lengthy explanations why it can't be done, or
<br>why it hasn't been done and will be difficult miss the point. Either<br>Asterisk needs to change to move into this market, or another product will<br><br>JMO<br><br>John Novack<br><br>_______________________________________________
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