Looking for a perfect office phone system

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ne-system.html

ginder

I'd say you can save quite a bit with a switch, But phone systems are the life-blood of many businesses. So, choose carefully before a switch if you fit in that category

You didn't mention your phone traffic direction. Are you using 5 lines for Inbound or Outbound calls? The ratio will make a difference in the best VOIP provider fit for you.

Are all your staff using those 5 lines on-site with You? Do you use outsourcers in other locations? again a big difference in which VOIP fits your needs.

Do you use physical phones or softphones? Another big issue for your decision.

Number portability - If you have only published or distributed your 800 number, then forwarding is an option. There's a cost for that one way or the other and you sure don't' want to get a new 800. If you have had people calling in on local numbers, then you should move it they are important calls.

On the question of using Wireless vs Direct-Wired Internet service I've had long experience in telecom applications. Going back 23 years beginning with PBX installations. here's my rundown of best choice for business phone systems

#1 - best choice for any mission-critical business telephone system is still good old-fashioned copper wire on the PSTN (public switched telephone network) you get the famous five 9's of uptime. 99.999% it's always working

#2 - With VOIP, there are local VOIP business providers sending it directly to your location via hard connection. That's exactly what your Comcast is doing with the Business Service you have now. It is superior to using consumer Internet connections. But I use residential Comcast that gives 14Mbps down and 6Mbps up and its superb for small SOHO businesses

#3 - hardwired Internet connections can be T1 lines from telecoms, cable Internet from Comcast, or copper wire from ATT Uverse. I much prefer Comcast residential Internet service over the others. You won't have a problem with good local hard wired connections

#4 - Wireless 3G 4G - I have limited experience with using these services for VOIP. There are for sure... many, many variables that can go wrong with any type of wireless. IMHO, If your business is important and making you money over the phone, there should be no worries over the small extra expense for hard wired connections

Using VOIP OutSourcers in Asia
If you use outsourcers overseas, then the choice is going to be the best VOIP provider that fits your other criteria.

As one poster mentioned, Speed Up and Down on the local connection is critical to good phone VOIP service, and another technical issue is latency. If there is latency(a lag time), the conversation can be like a 2-way radio conversation. Problems there. And even if the local ISP is good, the local neighborhood might have terrible local telecom wiring and switching.



In Asia, where you will find most outsourcers, the residential Internet connections are 99% all ADSL modems coming over the the local telephone wires. ADSL is a very old protocol and the upload speed is very slow compared to DSL and cable. I've found that Skype with a good local ISP connection works very well for my Filippino calling agents who work from home, if they have a good ISP.

I am finishing up a White Paper(PDF) on my recent VOIP changeover. I spent 5 weeks recently... researching dozens of providers and physically trial-ing 5 of them by opening accounts before finding my ideal setup. I've actually combined 2 providers to give me global reach and accomodate my outsourcing. I myself do not have a traditional bricks-and-mortar office and the staff is in 4 different countries.

PM me if you would like a copy when its ready.

Regards,
Jan Gregory