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Replacing the IP-PBX: Going Hybrid

There are many reasons why businesses are adopting SIP trunks, and there are just as many reasons why they aren’t.

During the past several months, we've had some successful implementations and some setbacks.

A machine shop in which we implemented a 3Com NBX100 solution using IP phones in 1999 (before PoE was ratified) recently asked that we replace their now dead system. (A side note: This is/was our longest running "legacy IP PBX." Our PoE solution was running signal wire to each telephone, splicing the power bricks at the closet and connecting them to a power strip plugged into a UPS)

Why Did the Customer Adopt SIP Trunks?
Besides the IP-PBX hard drive giving out to daily seizures, the customer's monthly local telephone bill was approximately $290 - not including a separate long distance bill. Because voice mail requirements were very small, we used Jive Communications to integrate the dial plan of the Panasonic KX-NCP500. This allows Jive to act as the automated attendant--in this case, after 4-5 rings, inbound calls will be answered.

Voice mail messages are delivered via email, and the customer fax number is ported to the Jive hosted fax service for delivery to customer email. Outbound fax calls route across the SIP trunks provided by Jive. The fax is connected to a 2500 port on the Panasonic PBX.

Besides eliminating the premises-based voice mail system and reducing their monthly telephone expenses to less than $70, the customer also likes the idea of virtual extensions that will ring their cell phones while they are on the shop floor conducting business. The mobility component allows them to simply answer inbound calls either at their desk on anywhere in the plant.

Why Did the Customer Use a Premises-Based PBX?
Cost of the PBX and the savings using SIP trunks for this customer yielded a 26-month payback. The customer also has three 2500 sets throughout the plant with amplified handsets and they have onsite paging. Their failover is having inbound calls route to their cell phones, ringing concurrently for all inbound calls.

Small businesses will adopt SIP trunks and they will seek the savings, trimming down of premises hardware and enjoy the benefits of mobility. This particular business is representative of numerous firms that have similar needs that don't necessarily get into UC or Lync. Jive offers mobility clients but this customer is still unlikely to adopt them since their needs are simplified and being met. The transition of "no more PBXs and no more desk phones" is just that – a transition.

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