IP PBX Advice (Nortel, Avaya, Mitel, Cisco)

Hey all -

I'm evaluating IP PBX's for a small site (20 or so users), but
reliability is key (business is almost 100% dependent on the phones
being up). We will be growing in the next year, and possibly with
remote sites. Our vmail needs are simple and we don't need unified
messaging or any type of call center applications (I don't foresee them
in the future either).

I've looked at the Shoretel product, the Nortel BCM, the Avaya IP
Office, the Mitell 3300 series and a Cisco Call Manager. I looked at
CME, but TAC doesn't officially support QSIG on CME and I absolutely
need QSIG capability.

Right now, my favorites are Mitel and Cisco. I've read a lot of
positive newsgroup postings about both, but it seems like upgrades of
CM down the road are a mess. Basically what's important is
functionality, ease of management, and most importantly,
reliability/uptime.

I'm just looking for some peer advice/feedback instead of listening to
my various VARs talk their product up and put down the competition.

Thanks!
B

 

We are using multiple Mitel 3300's and multiple Mitel SX200_ICP systems
(both with Q.SIG) and have been very well satisfied with the product. The
SX200_ICP systems are being used as end nodes, going into small offices
with 50 or less employees and very minimal trunking requirements (no
trunk-to-trunk requirements). The 3300s are going into larger offices and
in locations where we need inter-machine (tandem) trunking.

Mitel's 3300-CXi product might be ideal for your application.

What will you be using the Q.SIG for?

 

The Q.SIG is for integration with a trading turret system.
Thanks for the comments!

 

Being a Mitel engineer im a little biased but I think the Mitel CX
would be perfect. It has everything you would expect in a system and
more.

 

I work for a network integrator that carries both Cisco and ShoreTel.
If are comparing the two for your needs then ShoreTEl is a far better
choise. First of all you mentioned Qsig which ShoreTel does support.
CME is basically dial tone replacement and isn't easy to manage and
upgrades are nasty. You should take another look at ShoreTel for sure.

 

I work for a network integrator that carries both Cisco and ShoreTel.
If are comparing the two for your needs then ShoreTEl is a far better
choise. First of all you mentioned Qsig which ShoreTel does support.
CME is basically dial tone replacement and isn't easy to manage and
upgrades are nasty. You should take another look at ShoreTel for sure.

 

We are doing exactly the same thing. Using Q.SIG between the Mitel and an
Etrali turret system. Mitel supports the full load of Q.SIG, including
CFB/CFNA reason codes, msg wtg set/clear, stepback on busy, diversion,
CallerID Name & number.

 

If you are looking at Mitel and cost is a consideration. The SX200ICP in the
CX form will be a cost saving over a similar 3300ICP in the CX form. The
SX200ICP is also a little stronger at mimicking a key system if that is your
required setup. I only know Mitel so I tend to lean that way. Both systems
are reliable and should fit your needs. They also have some more advanced
features like teleworker ( running a set off the system from you home if you
have DSL or other high speed ), ACD, ARS ( least cost routing ), Your
Assistance ( laptop soft phone ) and all the other features of the TDM
SX2000 and SX200 PBX's. The 3300ICP certainly supports QSIS as does the
SX200ICP ( I believe ). Both come with a basic internal voicemail system,
with an auto attendant capability for dial by name etc. The upgrade to the
SX200ICP is basically plugging in a Compact Flash card with the new software
and selecting the upgrade required ( pretty easy ) The 3300ICP has a windows
bases "software installer" program that does pretty well everything on its
own. You set up a laptop as an FTP server, download the new software from
Mitel's web site into the home FTP directory and tell the software installer
the IP address of your laptop. The rest is pretty easy just say if you want
to backup the database and the voicemail messages and away we go. Without a
voicemail backup its about 35 minutes. Any one with some IT experience
should be able to handle that. The 3300 is managed via HTTP, with users
having the ability to manage adding keys to their sets or groups of sets via
a similar HTTP interface. If you wish to allow this type of access a
separate login is created for each user or admin type person. Otherwise a
central person can do all the admin. The 200ICP is managed via secure
telnet. It does have a simple GUI based program for making set changes as
well. Anyway hope this info is helpful. Maybe someone can give you Cisco
info.

 

I have a couple of 3300's that use QSIG links to an Option 61 ( Nortel )
without any problem once the Nortel VAR had everything set up ok. One site
only uses its 3300 to run Spectralink wireless handsets ( supported directly
via the 3300 on a 802.11b network. ).

 

Just one more note about ShoreTel. If you'd like to see some unbiased
opionions:
The November 8th edition of PC Magazine just hit the stands. It
includes an 8-page test and review of IP Phones systems for small
business, including Avaya, Switchvox, 3Com and ShoreTel.
ShoreTel received the Editors' Choice Award.

 

By the way, you don't need Mitel's Teleworker in order to put a Mitel IP
set in the home. All that's needed is a DSL line and a Cisco 831 SOHO
router with EZVPN. Perhaps a bit more expensive, but it allows you to
effectively reserve some bandwidth for the VPN pipe thus allowing you (or
your children) to choke the remaining channel with their favorite music or
video download without impacting the voice quality on the VPN segment. I'm
a little unsure how this works except to be able to attest that it indeed
does.

This of course is not true QOS, as upstream net.congestion at your ISP or
beyond can still hammer your total bandwidth, but so far it seems to be a
noticeable improvement over YA-Pro without the server requirement while at
the same time giving you an honest-to-God physical multi-line display
instrument to use (I dislike headsets).

 

I'd be interested on how that works, although if its more expensive, why
would I go that route?

 

The 831 router (rather than the phone) establishes the VPN;
!
crypto ipsec client ezvpn ezvpn-client
connect auto
group ezvpn key Dal#vpn1ez
mode network-extension
peer 65.95.214.191
xauth userid mode interactive
!

we are fundamentally extending a limited segment of the corporate ntwk out
across the vpn path with encryption. The phone then downloads its image
and authenticates over this path, just as though it was inside the corp
office. All that is needed on the remote phone end is to hard code the IP
address of the RTC and TFTP (which normally are identical).

Without going into a lot of detail, the phone (and any corp office app)
uses the VPN and any other surfing or emailing that you want to do goes to
your ISP. The 831 router handles this. However much of the VPN bandwidth
happens to be in use is unaffected by other traffic.

The entire config on the router is less than 200 lines (and no, I'm not at
liberty to post it here)

Several reasons for going this route:

1 - it eliminates having to explain to your network security cop why you
need a gazillion ports opened up as you would with the Teleworker
application. Some network security folks are extremely anal about this,
even when it's only UDP traffic.

2 - it eliminates the need for "YAS" (yet another server)

3 - it allows you to send the user home with -any- IP phone, supported by
teleworker or not and any Mfr, whether Mitel or Cisco (we have both a 3300
as well as a Call Mgr on the voice netk). The user requires zero training
except to hand them a phone with a cat-5 pigtail and say, "here, go home
and plug it in".

 

What is the cost of the 831 compared to the Teleworker option?

Other then that, interesting points you bring up although point 3 would be
the same for any system wouldn't it? I would think. If you can use a set on
say the 3300, there is no training needed for teleworker. You config it and
send it home to be plugged into the home router.

 

The 831 I believe is in the $400 neighborhood. But since we furnish the
employee with DSL we furnish the router too. Keeps us a bit more in
control.

 

Since when does ShoreTel support Q.SIG? They didn't as of just a few
months ago. Is this a recent addition?

Based on the needs of the original poster, I would recommend a single
Mitel system. However, based on my recent experience during an RFP with
both Mitel and Cisco, I would recommend Cisco for larger networks.
Since this is a smaller site, has minimal Q.SIG interoperability
requirements, and has simple VM needs, the Mitel 3300 CX is a natural
fit as long as you have a good VAR to install, configure, and maintain
it.

 

How will i know hen it is done?