Likelihood to Recommend The Cisco Unified Communications Manager platform would be most suited for the below scenarios. 1. An organization with very restricted policies and compliance where can't move to cloud-based solutions for data security. They can install the CUCM on-premises. 2. An organization that is still on a legacy phone system could adopt CUCM to save costs and have better services.
Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
Mitel is excellent at allowing me as a user to setup up custom call routing in response to rapidly changing work flows. If I need to work from home for a period due to medical or other reasons, logging into Mitel and setting my office phone to ring through to my home or cell is quick and simple. Changing back is just as quick.
Read full review Pros This solution is extremely stable and has been running in our environment for several years without (unscheduled) downtime. The ability to have voicemails automatically sent as an email message is extremely helpful in helping us to keep in touch while away from the desk. The Call Manager provides us very granular settings to route our calls as we want. Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
The system up-time has been 100% over 3 years. With separate systems and two locations we used to have to fake the system into 4 digit dialing by forwarding all remote extensions to DIDs. Now with Shortel extended to the remote location we have true 4 digit dialing. The Shortel desktop application makes managing calls and call routing a breeze for even our most novice users. Read full review Cons Administration web page is little bit hard to understand at the beginning specially if you are not familiar with naming convention and GU Interfaces. Call Detail Record interface is fine but would be desirable to include more options that fit organization needs in terms of reporting purposes. Self Care Portal interface could be more useful to the end user if it includes options to manage some features without administrators involving. Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
There are persistent problems with the app's functionality on mobile devices. At times, the web conferencing service may have delays. It appears to be less stable than competing approaches. Using a headset instead of the microphone and speakers integrated into a desktop computer slows down the softphone's performance. Read full review Likelihood to Renew We have been using this product for 20+ years and will continue too. This is a great product and new features are always coming out.
Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
Although the price is higher than some of the other Hosted systems out there, the value is definitely worth a renewal. Everything is relative: there are some companies out there who need phones, but don't necessarily care how they work, the functionality/features available/durability etc., they just care that they have phones that make and receive calls. There are other companies that are completely reliant on phones and certain functionality that is provided by the system. There are even some companies who are straight up dependent on the phone system and are losing tons of money anytime they are down, ShoreTel is the perfect fit for theSMB client who sees value in a solid,robust, reliable and high functioning phone system
Read full review Usability Although it's very easy to use, once you understand the concepts of IP telephony, as I said before, I think Cisco could have improved the management interface of the platform, adding modern technologies and the design language of the other platforms like DNA Center, etc. This interface hasn't had a substantial improvement for about 10 years
Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
I have not used a wide array of communication software, but this far ShoreTel/MiCloud has been the simplest and easiest to get into. My work employs several temps at certain points throughout the year, and they use this piece of software frequently, and new hires seem to have little to no issue using this software. Additionally, this is our primary telephone communication infrastructure, and I have yet to encounter any issues when signed in and regularly using it handling external calls to our department.
Read full review Reliability and Availability Mitel Networks Corporation
The system has gone down on us MULTIPLE times. We asked them to move us to a different cluster. Shoretel declined. Basically we had problems or outages every month of the year from June 2012 to date. Our old phone system was just that: OLD, no bells or whistles. But it was up every day and I never had to think about it much until it was time for an upgrade. That's how I want Shoretel to be. I want it so reliable that I never have to think about it.
Read full review Performance Mitel Networks Corporation
Even though the system uses a lower bandwidth connection we have experienced a higher call quality than our previous system which required a T1 line and back up broadband connection.
Read full review Support Rating CUCM is supported by most third-party vendors for related products, so it makes finding solutions to specific needs easy. Also Cisco TAC is very knowledgeable, and we have never run into a problem they have not been able to resolve. Usually they are resolved without the need to escalate tickers either.
Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
ShoreTel Sky's support is amazing. The only reason why I didn't give it a 10 is that we still need to contact them for stuff that we should be able to do, for ourselves, within the management portal. I know their portal is being worked on, so hopefully they will get the "little things" included for self-management.
Read full review In-Person Training Mitel Networks Corporation
I attended the first ShoreTel installer class in Austin,TX. It was a week of intensive study with a live lab and having hands on experience made the class worthwhile. I have taken all of the sales courses and remaining technical courses either online or self study to keep costs down. I send my techs to the first installer course in Austin as I feel it gives them a solid foundation and most of teh other courses they have taken have been online.
Read full review Online Training Mitel Networks Corporation
The training identified some things M5 (ShoreTel's cloud division) could provide, however it was only using it every day and asking the Shoretel support several questions that I got the hang of it. The training was able to highlight functions but I did not learn how to use the phone from the training.
Read full review Implementation Rating This was the first phone system we implemented that could span multiple locations. We were very satisfied once fully implemented
Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
Each of our locations has a dedicated ShoreTel router and managed QoS. With full management, it provides us a breath of space and bandwidth to use our resources in other means. Strongly consider the managed solution as you have to maintain more technical issues when hosting with your ISP. You have to make sure your ISP can provide you the best service for voice and data. Plug and 'hope' doesn't work with just routing your phones over any Internet connection....especially when your handsets run int he 100's
Read full review Alternatives Considered We have been a Cisco based shop and have looked at other cloud voice options such as MS Teams pbx, and others, but ultimately, the features, endpoints, and reliability of Cisco has been the common factor in staying with them as our voice provider. Their integrations, room systems, and hybrid design allows for us to be flexible and keep a high up time vs reliance on 100% cloud.
Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
Aptela. I chose M5 (ShoreTelSky) because their platform puts call quality first. Their system also uses Cisco endpoints, which are very compatible with the rest of my Cisco network. I also liked the fact that ShoreTelSky uses the internet only as a backup for transport; I use MPLS as my primary connectivity.
Read full review Scalability Mitel Networks Corporation
I believe that ShoreTel can be used by a minimum company size of about 25 to almost any size of a company and this can be achieved while the company grows, hence makes it pretty scalable when required. For companies which are smaller in size i.e. smaller than 25, I am not sure how useful it would be, it may be depending upon the type of business
Read full review Return on Investment Communication and collaboration - Our offices are able to communicate both internally and externally due to this system. Down time - Struggles with CUCM has caused a lot of down time due to the instability of the system. High Costs - the cost of both the license and the maintenance was much higher than other systems. Read full review Mitel Networks Corporation
At my branch alone, we are saving over $500 a month using Shoretel Sky versus the phone company we were using before them. Shoretel Sky has increased customer service by allowing our employees to easily transfer a call to the proper department or branch no matter where they are located instead of giving the caller a phone number to call. Most of our locations did not have caller ID before Shoretel Sky. That feature has increased employee efficiency because when they know who is calling before they answer allows them to professionally greet their caller and have their info up on their computer as they answer. Read full review ScreenShots MiCloud Connect Screenshots