IP Based Phone Systems & Traditional PBX Systems

Comparing IP Based Phone Systems with NEC PBX Systems

Information gathered from various sources include manufacturer's brochures and internet sites and cannot be guaranteed to be accurate due to constantly changing technology.

NEC offers systems that are TDM or IP based. VOIP can be added to all current systems and traditional TDM systems can be expanded using IP phones where it make economical sense. Updated 12/2005

Concerns about the IP Only Based Phone Systems:

STRENGTHS:
1. Ability to relocate phones by plugging them into a LAN port with POE (Power Over Ethernet). Since the information is programmed in the phone, phones can be relocated by unplugging and moving.
2. Ease of networking over existing IP WANs if there is adequate bandwidth to support voice traffic too.

WEAKNESSES:
1. These systems are new to the marketplace and lack many features of existing PBX systems.
2. IP Phones must have an external power supply. Either you install an AC adapter per phone or run DC voltage over your LAN wiring by purchasing switches with POE.
3. Dedicated LAN hub/switch ports are required for phones where no PC exists.
4. Phones beyond the 300' Ethernet limit may require additional equipment.
5. Trouble shooting this system may interrupt LAN operations.
6. Scheduled down time required.
7. Larger installations probably should have an in-house IT department.
8. Most users have a trained MIS staff. Staff turnover is a concern.
9. You must upgrade any old hubs to switches to handle the voice traffic on your LAN.
10. Probably minimal LAN degradation with heavy voice traffic once you have installed high speed switches.
11. Battery Backup becomes difficult with a LAN phone system as servers plus switches need to be backed up. Typical 20 minutes vs 2-4 hours for a PBX.

SUMMARY: Reliable NEC PBX systems can use IP connections between locations to provide Voice Over IP so that a customer with multiple locations can communicate over an existing WAN IP. The advantage to this is the ability to merge voice traffic with data traffic and provide some "free" phone calls between company branch offices. AND, NEC's extensive Least Cost Routing can route calls out another building if that call is cheaper, or all lines at your location are busy. When the phone call hangs up, the entire bandwidth becomes available for data usage.

Comparison/Feature NEC PBX IP Based Phone Server
Analog phones Can use inexpensive analog phones with most features available Requires external adapters
Automatic Set Relocate Yes for both IP and digital phones Standard
Battery Backup Standard DC powered- 2-4 hours typically provided Optional - Requires AC Backup of multiple items for safety
Card Slots for phones Digital, analog or IP Phones IP phones
IP Networking Just add software Just add software
Central Call Accounting Standard Feature Typically available
Centralized Voice Mail Standard Feature Typically available
Conference Calling 3-4 standard, 8 or 32 port optional Varies with different brands
Console - Attendant Console, or phone with DSS Phone with dedicated buttons
Downtime-scheduled None Reboot server for maintenance, plus NT surprises
Dual Color indicator lights Yes, IP and Digital phones Typically LCD display, not as easy to distinguish
E-911 Compatible? Standard PRI or CAMA trunks PRI only?- may require expensive additional hardware
Estimated Useful Lifespan? NEC PBX typical 10-15 years Technology too new to predict
Expansion capability? 60,000 ports varies by manufacturer
Fax machines Order DID and put on PBX Some don't support fax. May have to retain extra phone lines?
Ground Start Trunks Standard - louder lines for rural areas Not Available?
Hands-free inter-com Hands free answer back with Full Duples Typically not available
Headsets Digital sets have built-in jack Varies - be sure to ask if you use these.
IP Phones for installation at remote sites Standard Standard
Least Cost Routing Standard, routes calls out best location Future - limited number of hops for IP calls?
License fees One time purchase for IP phones Some require annual fees!
Lightning Protection Installed on outside lines and AC Typically installed on AC only
Maintenance Costs Standard IP phones typically costs more to purchase and replace
Maintenance Modem Standard Unknown
Manufacturer's Warranty Five Year optional One Year?
Market Share NEC in Top 3 of converged systems Varies, market share increasing over other brandsl
Music On Hold Multiple options per tennant One choice or none. Music ties up bandwidth
Message waiting lights Standard - built in light and message Some have a flashing light, others just have a display message
Modems on systems? Standard, inexpensive analog ports Order separate phone lines for these devices. Typically don't work on reliably on VOIP systems. Extra ongoing monthly expense.
Multi-Line Phones Digital or IP- Multiple choices IP only
Power Failure Transfer - extended outage Multiple phones/trunks one phone/trunk
Paging Interface Access to paging by dialing a code or pressing a button Some brands don't connect well
LAN Traffic Doesn't affect requires switches to minimize the effect
Reliability Rated 99.999% uptime Multiple points for failure
Sound Quality Digital phones equivalent to FM some sound delay
SMDR Standard Standard
Station Hunting Multiple Types Varies, limited choices in some brands
Traffic Measurement Standard Very Limited
Uniform Call Distribution Standard Future - Call Groups typical
Viruses and Worms n/a Server software and router software = potential hazard
Voice Mail Options Multiple brands/choices Proprietary only
Voice Mail Sound quality High quality voice sound Some brands sound tinny due to limited bandwidth
Windows GUI Maintenance. Software. Standard Standard
Wiring 1 twisted pair Requires Cat V or Ve or better wiring. LAN wiring for warehouse phones etc. Potential 330' problem

Comparison/Feature	NEC PBX	IP Based Phone Server
Analog phones	Can use inexpensive analog phones with most features available	Requires external adapters
Automatic Set Relocate	Yes for both IP and digital phones	Standard
Battery Backup	Standard DC powered- 2-4 hours typically provided	Optional - Requires AC Backup of multiple items for safety
Card Slots for phones	Digital, analog or IP Phones	IP phones
IP Networking	Just add software	Just add software
Central Call Accounting	Standard Feature	Typically available
Centralized Voice Mail	Standard Feature	Typically available
Conference Calling	3-4 standard, 8 or 32 port optional	Varies with different brands
Console - Attendant	Console, or phone with DSS	Phone with dedicated buttons
Downtime-scheduled	None	Reboot server for maintenance, plus NT surprises
Dual Color indicator lights	Yes, IP and Digital phones	Typically LCD display, not as easy to distinguish
E-911 Compatible?	Standard PRI or CAMA trunks	PRI only?- may require expensive additional hardware
Estimated Useful Lifespan?	NEC PBX typical 10-15 years	Technology too new to predict
Expansion capability?	60,000 ports	varies by manufacturer
Fax machines	Order DID and put on PBX	Some don't support fax. May have to retain extra phone lines?
Ground Start Trunks	Standard - louder lines for rural areas	Not Available?
Hands-free inter-com	Hands free answer back with Full Duples	Typically not available
Headsets	Digital sets have built-in jack	Varies - be sure to ask if you use these.
IP Phones for installation at remote sites	Standard	Standard
Least Cost Routing	Standard, routes calls out best location	Future - limited number of hops for IP calls?
License fees	One time purchase for IP phones	Some require annual fees!
Lightning Protection	Installed on outside lines and AC	Typically installed on AC only
Maintenance Costs	Standard	IP phones typically costs more to purchase and replace
Maintenance Modem	Standard	Unknown
Manufacturer's Warranty	Five Year optional	One Year?
Market Share	NEC in Top 3 of converged systems	Varies, market share increasing over other brandsl
Music On Hold	Multiple options per tennant	One choice or none. Music ties up bandwidth
Message waiting lights	Standard - built in light and message	Some have a flashing light, others just have a display message
Modems on systems?	Standard, inexpensive analog ports	Order separate phone lines for these devices. Typically don't work on reliably on VOIP systems. Extra ongoing monthly expense.
Multi-Line Phones	Digital or IP- Multiple choices	IP only
Power Failure Transfer - extended outage	Multiple phones/trunks	one phone/trunk
Paging Interface	Access to paging by dialing a code or pressing a button	Some brands don't connect well
LAN Traffic	Doesn't affect	requires switches to minimize the effect
Reliability	Rated 99.999% uptime	Multiple points for failure
Sound Quality	Digital phones equivalent to FM	some sound delay
SMDR	Standard	Standard
Station Hunting	Multiple Types	Varies, limited choices in some brands
Traffic Measurement	Standard	Very Limited
Uniform Call Distribution	Standard	Future - Call Groups typical
Viruses and Worms	n/a	Server software and router software = potential hazard
Voice Mail Options	Multiple brands/choices	Proprietary only
Voice Mail Sound quality	High quality voice sound	Some brands sound tinny due to limited bandwidth
Windows GUI Maintenance. Software.	Standard	Standard
Wiring	1 twisted pair	Requires Cat V or Ve or better wiring. LAN wiring for warehouse phones etc. Potential 330' problem