[Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US

[Brian Johnson]

Perhaps I am associating you with the wrong company ... there is a Storm
Communication in the Ottawa area that is an ISP

It was recommended by users on a LUG mailing list I subscribe to but if I remember
correctly, they didn't provide service in my area



Storm3 Communications (admin at stormserver.net) wrote*:
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Brian Johnson" <bjohnson at jecinc.on.ca>
>To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 11:46 AM
>Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US
>
>
>> I'm right here ... where are you?
>
>Right about here..
>>
>> Just kidding, I'm in Stratford, Ontario, Canada
>
>I'm in Lethbridge Alberta.
>>
>> As an aside, I looked at switching to your company for internet access
>from
>> Bell HSE but switched to istop.com instead.
>
>My company? What made you choose istop.com?
>
>>
>> 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)
>
>I'm looking at doing something similar, but I can't my asterisk box to work
>right.
>>
>> 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
>
>It might be. Let me know how that goes.
>
>
>
>_____________________________
>Kris Cote
>Director of Internet Engineering
>StormServer Internet / Storm3 Communications
>admin at stormserver.net
>
>>
>>
>>
>> > -----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
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >_______________________________________________
>> > > >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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>> >
>>
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