[Asterisk-Users] IP Phone recommendations?

brian at txshirts.com brian at txshirts.com
Wed Dec 29 09:28:31 MST 2004


Okay,
  I'm feeling a little stupid here.... But I'm gonna ask anyway.

You mention support and firmware on the Ci$co phones.

I understand the support item.
I guess it makes sense that the phones have firmware.  Does it have to
be updated or changed or messed with that often?

If there is an article somewhere that covers this I'd love to read it.  

It seems like most of the VOIP marketing-speak is aimed at companies
with mega$$$ who want to spend $500/head on it.  We're a tad smaller and
we have $ to spend not $$ or $$$ or $$$$.  :)  Worse yet, we need $ to
go find and bring back it's friends.  :)  Anyhow, I haven't seen
anything that really tackles moving from a CISC Nortel Meridian KSU to a
IP based system.  I'm guessing that this is Nortel's absolute worst
nightmare.  It seems like they trickle down the technology from the
large switches to the micro PBX systems.   


Brian Greul
Texas Shirt Company
www.txshirts.com
713-802-0369 / 713-861-6261 (fax)

-----Original Message-----
From: Damon Estep [mailto:damon at suburbanbroadband.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 10:10 AM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] IP Phone recommendations?

Many use cisco IP phones, almost any model. Support and firmware access
has a fee.
SNOM 190 works well, free firmware, good community support.
Lots of reports of good luck with Polycom phones (IP500), but they wont
provide any support when used with * and you have to get your firmware
from the net, not from polycom, even if are willing to pay.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users- 
> bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of brian at txshirts.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 8:51 AM
> To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> Subject: [Asterisk-Users] IP Phone recommendations?
> 
> Hey gang,
>   I'm looking at escaping from a Nortel Meridian CISC system to 
> Asterisk/Digium/SIP phones.  I'm currently in the testing and proof of

> concept phase.  I'm going to need a SIP phone and don't want to 
> re-purchase and have "orphans" around.
> 
> We currently run Nortel 7310 phones and they work great.
> I'm sort of overwhelmed by all of the different IP phones.  I was
hoping
> some folks would share what they have found.
> My primary goal is to replicate the 7310's features and to allow room 
> for growth in the future with telephony applications.
> 
> Our primary driver is configurability and features that we can get in 
> Asterisk, that we can get without a lot of money from Nortel.
> 
> Namely-
> Voicemail, telecommuting workers on the pbx, better call handling, 
> better automation.
> I'd like to be able to integrate smart features like directory and
call
> handling to the handset, but I'll freely admit I'm just starting out.
> My initial goal is to just to get onto Asterisk and get it working.
> I'll worry about cool stuff later.
> 
> Our integration and migration plan is as follows:  If anyone has some 
> suggestions or pointers I'd love to hear them.
> 
> 1. Test and evaluate Asterisk with TDM400 with 1 FXO/FSO port each.
> 2. Configure Asterisk to be the primary PBX and slave the Nortel 
> Meridian system to it using a second TDM400.  This avoids immediate 
> replacement of all handsets.  Will allow immediate access to features 
> such as Voicemail.
> 3. Overtime, upgrade desk phones to IP phones.  When all phones are 
> replaced, decommission Nortel and sell on Ebay.  :)
> 
> Cold turkey option is to spend the extra $ and buy the handsets
upfront
> and just ditch nortel without a transition period.
> 
> We currently have 4 pbx lines and 1 dedicated fax/credit card line.
> We have 10 handsets.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Brian Greul
> Texas Shirt Company
> www.txshirts.com
> 713-802-0369 / 713-861-6261 (fax)
> 
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