Should I Upgrade to VoIP, or use PBX

Question

We now use an Alcatel PBX, 15 years old, with Lucent 8410d digital phones. We have 200 users at one site, and 100 users at three remote sites, with data T-1s connecting them. Is VoIP absolutely the best way to go, or should I look at mid-range PBX solutions. If VoIP, is the Cisco brand the worth the extra money? Thanks. jc

Answer 1

Do you like Coke or Pepsi? Are you a Republician or a Democrat? Do you watch the Office or Heroes? The point is that there is alot of personal opinion in what you are asking. And a look of non-quangtifiables.
First choice, to VoIP or not to VoIP. WIth a 15-year only PBX, you are probably going to need a change anyway. The only serious options are a new IP PBX or an upgrade to the Alcatel that will enable IP. The IP-enabled option may end up being cheaper, because it allows you to keep existing handsets. It also reduces the amount of change that your users will face. However, it does tie you down to a single vendor and probably a single topology. And maintenance expenses will probably be higher.
A new IP PBX would probably be most people's choice here, but hey, it's a Cisco IPT forum. (If you go to a Ears, Nose, Throat doctor, he will probably tell you that you have a problem in your ears, your nose, or your throat.) This will probably included a larger initial outlay of capital and services, but in general, maintance will probably be cheaper. Now, if you go with an IP PBX, which do you go with? Obviously Cisco is the popular choice around here. It is expensive, but it also works. Lots of support is available and lots of trained and certified professionals can be found to install and support it. Asterix is the other major option, but this is the opposite of Cisco in a lot of ways. Cheap, difficult to find support, difficult to find people to install. However, when instaleld correctly, it works as well as Cisco. Some would say even better, as Asterix has a broader feature set. But typically the support issue is enough to drive most businesses away.
Aside from Cisco and Asterix, the only other IP PBX worth mentioning is Avaya's IP Office, but that is really more of just an IP enabled PBX/Key system. so probably not a canidate unless you are already using Avaya.