Avaya IP Office - PBX for today and tomorrow
Updated April 29, 2015
Avaya IP Office - PBX for today and tomorrow
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Software Version
IP Office 500 V2
Modules Used
- Digital Expansion Module 16/30
Overall Satisfaction with Avaya Experience Platform
Not only do we sell the Avaya IP Office but we use in our own organization. We were recently purchased by Carrier Access, and due to the flexibility of the phone system we will be able to integrate our new parent company onto our PBX once the MPLS between the locations is online. We already had the necessary licensing on our system, so the only additional cost would be those of the new phones that will be installed. Having worked with multiple PBX platforms, I find the AVAYA easy to implement, setup, use, and manage. If a company is going to do their own MAC (moves adds and changes) or would like to this system allows that to be done with out having to deal with a very steep learning curve.
- Centralization is key. If you want to have all of your facilities on one phone system, to help mitigate telecom costs this is the system for you. You purchase the necessary licensing (one time purchase) and the licenses stay with you as long as you stay on that platform!
- Flexibility is fantastic. Whether you want to use the IP Office as a key system, or replace your existing partner system, or run as a PBX. This system will do it all, I was very impressed with the compatibility of the IP Office with legacy equipment. Have a Partner system? Not a problem. Have a Definity system? Not a problem!
- Broad based technology. You can utilize CO trunks (POTS lines), ISDN/PRI, T1, SIP, etc.... What ever your carrier hands off to you the IP Office can integrate with. No need to work with a third party vendor to get your interface up and running. AVAYA is a one stop shop, and if you have an existing warranty, just upgrade your IPOSS information on the system and your new hardware is covered.
- Rush for updates. At times an updated will fix one problem, and inadvertently create another. However with due diligence from your business partner (Tektivity) patches are tested before being rolled out in production environments.
- Part itemization. If you purchase a new system, the power cord does not come with the unit, that is a separate part. Very minor in the grand scheme of things but as a reseller and a customer still somewhat annoying.
- Large convoluted organization. As a user trying to navigate the AVAYA website, and track down information can be daunting. Even calling support can be challenging, you never know if your call will be routed to India, Brazil, or Denver. That is why the relationship with Tektivity is so important. You can leverage your business partner to get the answers you need so you can spend your time tackling issues that need your attention.
- Seamless implementation. If your access to the PSTN is through one of the major carriers, integrating the IP Office is quick, and easy. If you are in a market similar to ours where there are smaller carriers to work with, relying on your local Avaya business partner will allow for that same seamless integration.
- Users will find the menus on their new phones easy to navigate. It never hurts to have a cheat sheet provided by you installer. The system is very intuitive, even for system administrators.
- A new system paired with a new circuit contract has the potential for a cost savings that can pay for the new phone system in a 3 year time frame. We have customers that can attest to that!
There are other vendors out there, Cisco, Mitel, Shortel, etc.... We also sell Panasonic systems. Panasonic fills a gap/price point for the businesses that wants to rely on us to manage their phone system, and get their foot in the door with a phone system. The Panasonic from an administration side can be rough on a system administrator trying to do their own MAC work. Cisco and the others all have their benefits, and drawbacks. Each have their own pricing and feature models, so it is really a wash in a matter of speaking until you get into the realm of support, licensing, and integrating with 3rd party vendors.
If you do need to rely on a 3rd party vendor to integrate with your AVAYA solution, if the vendor is a Dev Connect partner you know it will work. Avaya spends weeks with vendors testing and creating documentation on how to integrate a multitude of solutions with their partners. Other competitors are lacking in this department.
If you do need to rely on a 3rd party vendor to integrate with your AVAYA solution, if the vendor is a Dev Connect partner you know it will work. Avaya spends weeks with vendors testing and creating documentation on how to integrate a multitude of solutions with their partners. Other competitors are lacking in this department.