[Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US

[Brian Johnson]

I'm right here ... where are you?

Just kidding, I'm in Stratford, Ontario, Canada

As an aside, I looked at switching to your company for internet access from
Bell HSE but switched to istop.com instead.

We have a branch office in Kemptville (currently using Bell HSE - but only
until I get time to get them switched to something else) that I'd like to
connect to here via VoIP

I have ordered two digium dev lite kits to try to connect the two (with
asterisk)

For two small offices, it's questionable whether it's worth the effort ...
but it's a learning experience that will hopefully pay off by easing the
opening of additional branch offices and providing an integrated whole



> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com
> [mailto:asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com]On Behalf Of Storm3
> Communications
> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 22:39
> To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US
>
>
> Brian, where are you?
>
>
> _____________________________
> Kris Cote
> Director of Internet Engineering
> StormServer Internet / Storm3 Communications
> admin at stormserver.net
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Johnson" <bjohnson at jecinc.on.ca>
> To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 7:02 AM
> Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US
>
>
> > I don't think I'd be stepping on toes if I told you guys we're paying
> about
> > $35/month per analog line with callerid, line hunting, call
> waiting, etc,
> etc
> > (basically the works minus voice mail) through AT&T
> >
> > That's Canadian so you'll have to work out the currency conversion
> > ie $1 USD = $1.65 CND
> >
> >
> > Jon Pounder (JonP at inline.net) wrote*:
> > >
> > >
> > >Hey I hear ya, I am in much the same situation.
> > >
> > >PRI or channelized T1 is not really a cost effective solution until you
> are
> > >over at least 10 lines, and need features like the DID or
> callerid, hunt,
> > >etc. that you would pay a few bucks more each per line so the per line
> > >analog cost would have been driven up over $50/line.
> > >
> > >My thoughts were BRI's as well since they work out to about $40/B
> channel,
> > >and you can add and delete in fairly inexpensive groups of 2.
> You get all
> > >the CLASS features of the PRI, but without having to buy a ton of lines
> to
> > >get them.
> > >
> > >BRI channel bank is one option I guess, but fairly rare and expensive.
> > >
> > >I would love to find a bri to pri T1 multiplexer at a
> reasonable cost. I
> > >have seen a few for sale minus the BRI cards so no deal on them.
> > >
> > >The ones I have seen do much more than is actually needed here
> so likely
> > >the cost is excessive when bought new.
> > >
> > >I am still not really clear why the isdn modems that seem so common
> > >can't/won't work in this situation. Is it simply an issue of software
> does
> > >not exist ? Does the modem do something other than simply dump the
> > >composite digital datastream into the serial port ? I am
> familar with how
> a
> > >channelized T1 can be output/input via a v35 HSSI port - Does this same
> > >concept not extend to the BRI isdn and a regular speed serial port ? Is
> the
> > >issue that a conventional serial port is topped out at 115k
> and bri would
> > >be 64+64+16 ? If so, how does the modem work in bonded bearer channel
> mode
> > >for data ?
> > >
> > >Anyone got answers ?
> > >
> > >
> > >At 06:40 AM 3/2/2003 -0500, you wrote:
> > >>Hello!
> > >>
> > >>Several of my customers would like to add a backup to their Internet
> > >>connection.  ISDN is a good solution:  decently fast for a
> dial-up-type
> > >>connection, yet still faily affordable.  While I was at it, I
> decided to
> > >>look at a couple of more creative telephone service options
> to possibly
> > >>improve their service or lower costs at the same time.  These
> customers
> > >>range from having just a couple of POTS lines without a key
> system up to
> > >>as many as 18 POTS lines into systems such as AT&T Merlin or Nortel
> > >>Norstar systems.
> > >>
> > >>My first thought on the higher end was a PRI line.  However, the cost
> > >>seems *very* prohibitive.  The average cost for a PRI line was
> $550/month,
> > >>just for "dial tone"!  I've heard others say that PRI becomes cost
> > >>effective in the 8 line range, but the cost for the office
> with 14 lines
> > >>($25/line * 14 lines) is only $350.  It would take 22 lines before the
> PRI
> > >>would equal the cost of individual POTS lines!
> > >>
> > >>As an aside, I did a survey of several of my customers with 10-30
> > >>employees.  Most of them have POTS lines only (from between 4 and 10)
> fed
> > >>into some sort of PBX.  Only one of them has a PRI line, and they wish
> > >>they hadn't gone that way:  they thought they would need more
> lines than
> > >>they do, and now they feel that they're way over-buying.
> > >>
> > >>Am I missing something?  When is a PRI competitive with POTS?  And if
> I'm
> > >>not missing something, is there an alternative between POTS and a PRI,
> > >>particularly for 5-15 lines?  None of the telephone companies I called
> > >>offered channelized T1 options for local service (let alone frac-T1),
> only
> > >>PRI.  Are there other options?
> > >>
> > >>Finally, any alternatives for smaller companies?  I tried to get a
> simple
> > >>BRI ISDN line for Internet backup for the company with 18 POTS lines.
> > >>#$@%@ Ameritech (excuse me, SBC) charges $10/month more if you don't
> sign
> > >>a 36-month contract and wouldn't give it to them without a
> credit check,
> > >>several pieces of company information, the names and telephone numbers
> of
> > >>at least two officers of the company and a personal guarantee from an
> > >>officer!  This for a customer who has had 18 POTS lines for
> *15* YEARS!
> > >>
> > >>I hate SBC...
> > >>
> > >>Thank you for reading my rant.  I would greatly appreciate any
> information
> > >>or suggestions you might be able to give me.
> > >>
> > >>Tim Massey
> > >>_______________________________________________
> > >>Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > >>Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> > >>http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
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