Avaya IP Office
is a Versatile SMB Phone System
Avaya's IP Office is much more than just
a business phone system for the small to medium business. It's
a PBX, a branch office, and a call center as well.
Accommodates a Range of Business Sizes
IP office is really more of a product line than a single product.
There are several platforms with plug in modules to custom configure
your phone system depending on your needs. You get to pick the
type of phones you want and the way you want to interface with
the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). You also don't
have to pay for a huge system if all you have is a few extensions.
Supports IP and Circuit Switched Telephony
You should take the IP in IP office loosely. Yes, it will function
as an IP PBX system using IP phones that share a common Ethernet
LAN with your computers. But you're not tied to a strictly VoIP
solution. For instance, you can use a wide variety of telephones
with the IP Office system, including analog, digital, IP, and
even soft phones. Avaya has two series of business phones that
are specifically designed for the IP Office. They are the 5400
series digital phones and the 5600 series IP phones. The digital
phones connect via two wire connections from handset to chassis.
The IP phones have a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN connection.
Even with IP Phones, you have the option
to configure your IP Office system as a standard voice PBX. Within
the office, you have the ease of moves, adds and changes by just
plugging the phones into your LAN. To the outside world, you
can choose to show standard analog phone lines or a T1/PRI digital
trunk for more cost effective multiple lines. These are still
circuit switched phone services with Caller ID available.
Or you can stay in IP mode with a WAN connection
to a private line service, Frame Relay or dedicated Internet
access. This lets the Avaya IP Office function as a branch within
a much larger organization. The IP Office is designed to link
similar systems together easily to use a centralized voice mail
or call center configuration.
Call Center Functionality Built-In
Speaking of call center, you can actually use the IP Office to
create your own small stand-alone call center with CTI or Computer
Telephony Integration. CTI is the feature that lets incoming
customer calls generate "screen pops" of customer information
from a company database to the agent's PC. Each employee in the
call center can also control their phone using a graphical interface
on their PC screen. The TAPI (Telephone Applications Programming
Interface) is an industry standard and supports use of Microsoft
Outlook and other Windows applications.
An unusual feature of Avaya IP Office is
support for digital wireless phones. Using a plug-in interface,
the system will include wireless phones on, say, a factory floor.
It Grows With Your Business
While Avaya IP Office is scalable from 2 to 360 extensions, the
"small" in SMB should also be taken with a grain of
salt. This may be more system than smallest SOHO users can justify,
unless they are remote workers, branch offices of a larger organization,
or start-ups that want to accommodate potential rapid growth
without investing too much up front or being stuck with a "fork
lift" upgrade by selecting a too-limited phone system. For
these and medium size companies, the IP Office can provide a
sophisticated product with a lot of versatility and scalability.
Considering a New Business Phone System
or Upgrade?
Let qualified telecommunications suppliers in your area help
you decide if an Avaya
business telephone system is right for your company. Or explore
our VAR Network to search
for new and used telephone and networking equipment and services,
including low cost T1 / PRI and other line services. Just start
by entering your zip code...
Need More Help?
For assistance with your particular enterprise network and telephony
issues, please use our Enterprise
VoIP inquiry form. A member of our technical sales team will
be in touch quickly. There is no cost or obligation for this
service.
