[Bilmar]

This a bit of a rant but here goes...

I have just spent the better part of two days researching VOIP for a new small business I am starting - I need 4 lines 6 phones, one will be POTS

My problem is that there does not seem to be much info on how to do this - anywhere. Once you spec beyond 2 lines then info is scarce unless you go to the big $$$'s Solution Providers.

I found Talkswitch which looks interesting - but pricey. Not much else.

Maybe there is a good source of such info out there but it seems to me that all the basic VOIP faq's are geared to single line users not small businesses who need to keep a POTS line but want VOIP too.

I write software so I am no dummy but this seems way too hard just to order phone service and hardware!!

Anybody know of any good articles, white papers etc that could help me?

Thanks

Bill

[cayman]

Asterisk might be a route for you to intergrate a small-to-medium biz VOIP apllication. But, please see my sig - consumer-level VOIP is not reliable for biz aplications IMO. Also, 4 lines would require a preety good chunk of bandwidth if you're thinking of using a standard broadband connection.

It probably would be great as _additional_ service etc but I wouldn't put my primary business telecom on consumer-level VOIP any time this year (or perhaps even next). Loss of incoming, like that experienced by BV recently could be catastrophic. Business thrives on communication and dies quickly without it.

Good luck,
- Don

[PhoneBoy]

There's no reason why you couldn't integrate Asterisk with a couple of traditional PSTN lines. The benefits of VoIP on the inside with the reliability of PSTN on the outside. Everyone wins.

[muppetmaster]

Have a look at some of the small business providers such as:

http://www.teliax.com

Which provide the equivalent of the old centrex service, but based on VoIP. Also, have a look at http://www.voip-info.org if you have not already.

[mberlant]

Asterisk, combined with a couple of POTS lines, a multipath (more than one simultaneous conversation on one account or account group) service provider and enough SIP phones or ATAs should suit you just fine.

With your programming skills I would guess that you have enough Linux experience to understand Asterisk pretty quickly and to be able to articulate intelligent questions for the inevitable bits that escape your grasp.

You should assume 80kbps of internet bandwidth in each direction per simultaneous conversation (a little less with IAX than SIP, but for sizing 80k is a good number) and plan to put the box in your DMZ for ease of connection to the outside world (unless you want to deal with a bit of port forwarding).

Once you get Asterisk running you will be able to augment your base configuration with free services like FWD, IPKall and StanaPhone as well as pay-as-you-go services like SIPphone. There is an incredible amount of flexibility and capability in that system.

[ranam]

Dear Bill:

The TalkSwitch 48-CVA will address all of the requirements you have described in your post. The TalkSwitch is designed for the small business with 4 incoming POTS lines, 4 VoIP trunks, 8 local extensions and 8 remote extensions. VOIP Service providers will give you free gateways (ATAs), which will convert your IP lines into analog lines that can be connected directly to the PBX. The VOIP lines will then be treated like regular telephone lines.

With the next version of firmware for our TalkSwitch CVA (due out in early June 2005), you will be able to eliminate the ATA from the VoIP service provider, as you will be able to connect directly to services from BroadVoice, Cbeyond, and soon Vonage.

I would like to understand your objection to the price on our TalkSwitch 48-CVA. We feel for the value and features provided, that we are the price leader for small business PBX systems. If our MSRP prices may seem high, we have several resellers who sell for much less. If you would be interested in speaking with a reseller in your area, please contact me.

Link to our site: http://www.talkswitch.com/

Helpful Articles: http://www.talkswitch.com/voip/voip_primer.html

Regards,
Rana

Rana Maadarani

Centrepoint Technologies Inc.
Tel 613.725.2980 x137
Fax 613.725.2898
Toll free 888.332.9322 x137
Web Site www.talkswitch.com

[GlennCrocker]

I have a 48NLS.
Is it possible to configure a Sipura 2100 to the Talkswitch.
At the current time I'm using Telesip Service at http://www.voipxpress.org
Thanks,
GC

[daryll]

Hi,
I've been reading about cars, and you the learning curve for building an engine is just too steep.

Learning yourself is great. You'll know more about what you want. That doesn't mean you're now a telecom expert. Sure you can spend a lot of time and possibly money buying things and trying them, but it really isn't your area of expertise.

So I'm going to be the spoil sport here and say that you'd be better off hiring someone that knows telecom and will get it right the first time. It will be expensive but if you calculate how much time you've put in, and how much it will cost you if you don't get it right the first time, and I bet you'll find that paying the professional rate is a good investment.

With that said, if you have no budget and your time is therefore essentially free, then ask you questions and test, test, test before you deploy and it'll probably work out OK. Just don't be surprised if you throw some of it out if you didn't make the right choices or get the best recommendations.

[mberlant]

GlennCrocker, as long as you have an available CO trunk or two (of the four that comprise your TalkSwitch) you can plug them into either or both of the SPA-2100's ports. Assign the CO trunk(s) a separate Access Number (dial 8 for VoIP, 9 for POTS) and you're all set.

[GlennCrocker]

I only have one Regular Bellsouth line. So lines 2-4 are open. I just would like to add a few VOIP lines for marketing purposes and to track advertising to see what's working and what's not. Much cheaper than adding a lines from Bellsouth.

So if this will work, then I can order a Sipura 2100.

Thanks,
GC