Office phone guru's - in here

[Juiced4v]

It's a long shot but thought I'd start here....I'm helping a friend with some information. He's starting up a new business and is looking to get 10-12 office phones and service for the phones soon.

I'm trying to get a quote of what this would cost pre phone/per line. I'm sure he'd want the basics - VM/caller ID/call transfer option/ personal extension set up for each phone. He's old school therefore he is not looking for any VoIP type of phone system.

Not sure if anyone here does this for a living or can guide me on where to start.

TIA fellas....

[ceyko]

Most of us who do it for a living, doing VOIP.

At 10-12 phones, it would be best to just get something from a carrier. They'll install 2-12 POTS lines (up to your buddy) and some basic PBX. Cabling will need to be in place...etc...etc.

Optional cloud based phone systems too where softphones would be primarily used. S4B, Spark...etc

[dblack1]

As a user of VoIP, I feel bad for his phone bill. I saved $5k a year getting out from att herewith my VoIP, and it's better.

I haven't set up one with that many lines, but the six line system at a business I have was several thousand dollars in hardware.

[S_K]

There is a reason that you can't small old school systems and more.

A cloud based phone system will be a lot cheaper, easier to install, easier to maintain. Urge him to rethink VOIP.

[LS1Goat]

There are low cost virtual PBX phone small office plans. These days VoIP is really the only way to go.

[Juiced4v]

LOL @ the tags...

Yeah I tried to convince him to do VoIP but he wants old elephant style phones.

Does this look like everything that will be needed for an office of 10? Besides the phone service?

(1) Norstar CICS 0X16 with 7.1 Software
(2) 4x0 LS/DS Cards (Nortel 4x0 LS/DS Trunk Cartridge)
(1) Call Pilot 100 (4 port, 10 mailboxes, 9 hours of storage)
(10) Phones

Do you all know IT gurus that can hook all this up?

[S_K]

I have one I just took out of a Dr's office. I can probably hook you up.

[ceyko]

I design and implement Cisco based Voice/Collaboration solutions. I do not know much from a parts number perspective on the competing systems.

I will say looking at that LS/DS not sure what that is really. What you'll need is FXO for telco side POTS lines and FXS for your phones.

VM, 4 ports is plenty for 10 boxes.

Going with the solution is short sighted though. If it is a successful business, it will be replaced with either a VOIP or otherwise a hosted (Cloud) solution. The cloud solutions are ideal for a small business. No on-prem maintenance, IM, and a lot of other features that you won't get from a clunker solution like listed above.

[Juiced4v]

I have one I just took out of a Dr's office. I can probably hook you up.

Phone system?

[Juiced4v]

I design and implement Cisco based Voice/Collaboration solutions. I do not know much from a parts number perspective on the competing systems.

I will say looking at that LS/DS not sure what that is really. What you'll need is FXO for telco side POTS lines and FXS for your phones.

VM, 4 ports is plenty for 10 boxes.

Going with the solution is short sighted though. If it is a successful business, it will be replaced with either a VOIP or otherwise a hosted (Cloud) solution. The cloud solutions are ideal for a small business. No on-prem maintenance, IM, and a lot of other features that you won't get from a clunker solution like listed above.

Thank you for the info

[lincolnboy]

Wait for it, wait, wait for it

[S_K]

Phone system?

Yes a Nortel 6x16 system with voice mail. (6 trunks and 16 extensions) I am not sure what the software revision is. It has 12 phones and you will need someone to set it up for you. I took it out of service 6 weeks ago when they upgraded to a cloud PBX.

All the major telcos and cable tv providers will set you up with a turn key solution. Most of them run @ $25 per trunk and $15 per extension per month + plus Internet service.
Equipment is minimal and included in that price. They will set you up with Internet service, a voice gateway, and the phones. You will need to provide a gigabit Ethernet switch and Cat5 wiring or better to the phones. (Cat6 is preferred). You can use the same wiring and switch ports for your PCs as well. (The phones will share the wiring/port)

[2011GT]

Your friend sounds like an ignorant dumbass

[YALE]

We recently went from 8x8 to Vonage business for VOIP and Vonage sucks. We're going back to 8x8.

[Juiced4v]

Yes a Nortel 6x16 system with voice mail. (6 trunks and 16 extensions) I am not sure what the software revision is. It has 12 phones and you will need someone to set it up for you. I took it out of service 6 weeks ago when they upgraded to a cloud PBX.

All the major telcos and cable tv providers will set you up with a turn key solution. Most of them run @ $25 per trunk and $15 per extension per month + plus Internet service.
Equipment is minimal and included in that price. They will set you up with Internet service, a voice gateway, and the phones. You will need to provide a gigabit Ethernet switch and Cat5 wiring or better to the phones. (Cat6 is preferred). You can use the same wiring and switch ports for your PCs as well. (The phones will share the wiring/port)

Thanks! PM a price when you have a minute.