Cheap PABX - Is it worth it?

fluiduk · 10 Nov 2006 at 10:21

Hi All

Not sure if this goes here, so please move if not.

Helping someone sort a new phone system for work as they have 2 lines with just rubbish phones.

They don't have the money to get a nice IP system, and they are in the sticks so their broadband probably wouldn't be able to deal with the data and voice.

BT have quoted them 3k for a phone system which just isn't viable as they are a small company with 3 staff.

I have been on Ebay and seen this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Line-x-8-Ex...8QQihZ018QQcategoryZ34165QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Now, it looks mega cheap and I'm not sure if it is genuine. Has anyone ever used something like this? If so how was it.

We know that we are going to have to get a proper system soon but thinking of this a short term solution.

Feedback appreciated
Aaron

Avalon · 10 Nov 2006 at 13:51

While overall hisfeedback is good it's not without issue, it's a cheap short term fix though. One concern is he's contradicting himself on delivery timescales,the 'Shipping & Hadling' side ba says 7-14 days while the red section in the listing states 3-4 days but i'm being pciky

marmalade · 10 Nov 2006 at 14:27

BT would still have to install the cabling to the property. Check out getting a Broadband connection which would be the cheapedst option and then using voip with something like the Fritzbox fon.
http://www.avm.de/en/Extern/fritzbox_special/fritzbox.html
which can be used as a PBX
Use :
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/phoneno.php
which will give some idea of the line possibilities

stoofa · 10 Nov 2006 at 15:21

Just something you said in the original post.
Even if the company in question had money coming out of their ears I wouldn't recommend a "nice IP phone system" to anyone.

We are not the largest company in the world, however we've just spent £25k on a new phone system.
It has IP features, we can link offices together over IP for example.
However as with our old system, this is running with ISDN lines and not IP even though the budget was there for IP if we'd wanted it.
Just do not see the benefit out-weighing the disadvantages I'm afraid.

fluiduk · 10 Nov 2006 at 15:49

marmalade said:
BT would still have to install the cabling to the property. Check out getting a Broadband connection

They already have 2 bt phone lines installed and the building is fully cat5'ed. So all I need to do is patch the phones over the cat5 to the PABX box in the data rack.

Thanks for the feedback guys

aaron