expanding IP office to third floor

[billmx]

We are relocating 7 employees up to the third floor in our building.

We have a fiber line connecting the offices spaces running from level 1 to level 3.

Our current IP office setup on level 1 is very simple, all our 25 digital phones go right back to the IP Office controller. So they don't run on our data network.

Since the cable run is difficult and we want to avoid running 7 ethernet cables, I am looking at adding 7 IP phones for the employees moving upstairs.

Is that the easiest solution for this environment ?

I am getting a price of $3500 for this project from our vendor. That includes 7 IP phones/licenses/ and installation which seems very steep for moving 7 extensions upstairs.


Thanks !

 

[mforrence]

Without know the details, the quoted price of $3500 doesn't seem too off the mark. Vendor may be including VCM resources and PoE as well. IP is a good solution for this situation - but maybe running those 7 cables would cost less. Or maybe use an existing feeder cable.

Mike Forrence

http://www.goteamvox.com

 

[amriddle01]

You can run 4 dig phones on one Cat 5, or pull a single 10 pair voice link

 

[billmx]

That 10 pair voice line sounds tempting.
I was interested to test out the IP phone world, but I can't see that we gain any advantage going IP. We are working fine with the digital sets right now.

 

[critchey]

Ya most likely you need VCM resources and most likely it also includes POE of some kind. IP can get pretty pricey rather quickly when you are starting from scratch. Once you have the cabling and power and VCM cards then adding more phones because less costly.

The truth is just an excuse for lack of imagination.

 

[AACon]

Yeah I can tell you that about 2/3 of that is just hardware. I did a quick config based on not knowing a thing about your setup with many assumptions, and with 7 9608 ip phones, plus licenses, and a vcm card, it can get pricey. Add on markup, plus labor of a tech, and programming time, and it adds up.

I don't know what they quoted you exactly as far as parts, but if you wanted to go cheaper you could ask them to get refurb phones, or go with older 56xx phones (refurbs even).
You would still need licenses and vcm resources.

-Austin
I used to be an ACE. Now I'm just an Arse.

 

[ipohead]

Did they give you a breakdown of the costs?

As others have mentioned the IP phones need POE so you will need a power brick (and power socket) for each phone or POE switch with at least 8 ports.

Given everything that needs to be done the price seems about right and IP may give more options in future.

 

[billmx]

Thanks for all the info. Some more details ....
We are supplying the POE, they have suggested 1608-I desk phones @ $220 each.

What do you all think of those phones, and is that the going price from a Vendor ?

I mentioned that they are half that price on Amazon, but the vendor says it will take them longer to program those.

I really don't want to nit pick this project, but I'm trying to answer the question to management as to why it cost $3000 to move 7 extensions upstairs.

 

[critchey]

Ok that is kind of odd... I would expect them to say they will not program grey market phones not that they would take longer to program. That being said unless you can get them working yourself you are subject to whatever pricing they put on programming those phones for you.

The truth is just an excuse for lack of imagination.

 

[Westi]

billmx, please don't ask us to compare pricing with other vendors or the Internet.
You will always find some cheap stuff on the Internet or someone selling it cheaper.

We are bound by Avaya to a price scheme meaning we have to buy it at a certain price from our distributors and yes that price is higher than Amazon or some other online dealers but we can lose our business partner license should we get caught otherwise.

YOU however can buy online but don't tell the dealer where the phones are from to give them plausible deniability in case something blows up.

Joe W.

FHandw, ACSS (SME)


"This is the end of the world, make sure to buy your T-shirt before it is too late"
Original expression of my daughter