Computers have ventured into just about every aspect of our lives, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that when you open up the phone closets in some companies, you find a computer handling the phone duties instead of the traditional PBX system.
This new class of system is usually called a telecom server. Under the traditional model, phone users were usually limited to one manufacturer’s system: Vendor X would provide you with their PBX equipment, their phones, their voice mail system—and it usually wasn’t compatible with other equipment. Once you chose Vendor X, you were stuck with them.
“The concept of the telecom server is to embrace an open system that uses Window NT as the operating system,” says Gary Andresen, vice president of marketing for Altigen, a telecom server manufacturer. “All the components are built into one system. It’s very flexible.”
Users can start with four outside lines and eight phones and grow that to 150 phones. Companies can also use regular phones without having to spring for the $500 models pushed by some vendors.
The computer-based environment allows for complex features to be used with inexpensive phones. The system has caller ID, so someone checking voicemail from the road just has to hit one key to have the computer automatically dial the person who left the message. Also, once a user is in the system, he or she can dial out just like they were in the office, eliminating the need for credit card or calling card calls.
Four numbers can be programmed into the system to utilize a follow-me service. If the person doesn’t answer the phone, the caller will be presented with the option of using the service, which will try the numbers listed in the system, including a cell phone, home office or other secondary location.
“Everything is simple, both to install and maintain,” says Andresen. “It’s a Windows-oriented system.”
Because of the overhead of the NT server, a minimum of 12 to 15 phones need to be installed to realize a cost savings. The system will cost approximately $700 to $800 per desktop, which can drop to as low as $400 depending on the situation.
“The system gives you the power and flexibility to change,” says Andresen. “A new software upgrade will cost not thousands of dollars, but hundreds.
For more information, go to www.altigen.com.
Telecom server at a glance
• Replaces the traditional PBX or other proprietary phone system.
• Allows for the use of regular phones instead of expensive proprietary models.
• Doesn’t sacrifice features. Has caller ID, follow me and other abilities.
• Is usually cheaper than traditional systems.
• Has voice and data incorporated into one device.
• Entire system runs on a Windows NT server.
• Starts as low as four outside lines and eight phones; expandable to 150 phones.
• Flexible, open interface allows for use of other vendors’ software or enhanced features developed by third parties.
