<div id="text-block-4" class="mk-text-block "> <p>Columbus, Ohio (June 18, 2020) &#x2014; Wildix announced today that TMC, a global, integrated media company helping clients build communities in print, in person and online, has named Wizyconf as a 2020 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award winner.</p> <p>&#x201C;We&#x2019;re proud to have Wizyconf recognized for the innovation it brings to the unified communications industry,&#x201D; said Robert Cooper, Managing Director of Wildix North America. &#x201C;Enabling productive, professional and intuitive collaboration works to keeps teams connected from all around the globe.&#x201D;</p> <p>Wizyconf is the first professional easy-to-use web conference. The system was designed using WebRTC, which allows for secure browser-to-browser communication and features the powerful and reliable security of Chrome OS. It is the first standalone video conferencing tool on the market to provide web conferences with little to no additional setup, allowing user to create video conferences in just 30 seconds using only a remote control.</p> </div>

<div class="content-inner"> <span class="post-featured-img"><img width="848" src="https://www.xiologix.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/x2020-MSP500-Award.png.pagespeed.ic.3u7Ki0Asaq.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="2020 CRN Recognized" srcset="https://www.xiologix.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/x2020-MSP500-Award.png.pagespeed.ic.3u7Ki0Asaq.png 848w, https://www.xiologix.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-MSP500-Award-300x148.png.pagespeed.ce.0DuSN7ugJm.png 300w, https://www.xiologix.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-MSP500-Award-768x379.png.pagespeed.ce.tCRM_0zn9Z.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px"></span> <p><i>&#x201C;CRN&#x2019;s Managed Service Provider 500 list recognizes the top technology providers and consultants whose forward-thinking approach to providing managed services is changing the landscape of the IT channel.&#x201D; </i>Access the <a href="https://www.crn.com/news/managed-services/the-2020-managed-service-provider-500">full list here</a>. <span id="more-237035"></span></p> <p><span>Xiologix is proud to have made this list with the additional distinction of being named as a &#x201C;Pioneer 250&#x201D;. Our networks are expanding and evolving faster than ever. The saying, &#x201C;don&#x2019;t fix what isn&#x2019;t broken&#x201D; doesn&#x2019;t work in today&#x2019;s technical environments. It isn&#x2019;t enough to understand the technology and solutions of 2017.&#xA0; Changes affecting our networks such as 5G, IoT, AI, and increasingly complex cloud adoptions require more than legacy services and solutions can address. A great MSP provider is constantly evaluating product updates, product announcements, and visionary new solutions. It takes an IT Pioneer to understand legacy systems and know what it takes to transform those systems into a modern and protected IT Infrastructure. Xiologix is proud to have been recognized by CRN as such a Pioneer.</span></p> <p><span>Xiologix is proud to be blazing the trail providing modern </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.xiologix.com/"><span>technology solutions</span></a><span>&#xA0;&#x2013; including hardware, software, and services &#x2013; to help customers resolve their most complicated IT needs. Our expertise includes enterprise architecture and high availability, infrastructure optimization, security, storage and resource management, identity management, and business continuity.</span></p> <p><span><a href="https://www.xiologix.com/contact/">Contact Xiologix</a> to learn more about custom IT services and solutions.</span></p> </div>

<article id="post-37253" class="post-37253 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-blog-en"> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner "><div class="wpb_wrapper"> <div class="wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center"> <figure class="wpb_wrapper vc_figure"> <div class="vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey"><img width="1200" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dealing-with-DoS-Attacks-in-VoIP.jpg" class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" alt srcset="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dealing-with-DoS-Attacks-in-VoIP.jpg 1200w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dealing-with-DoS-Attacks-in-VoIP-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dealing-with-DoS-Attacks-in-VoIP-768x511.jpg 768w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dealing-with-DoS-Attacks-in-VoIP-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dealing-with-DoS-Attacks-in-VoIP-624x415.jpg 624w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></div> </figure> </div> <div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element "> <div class="wpb_wrapper"> <p>Every industry has its &#x201C;common cold&#x201D; &#x2014; their own unique threat that seemingly has no cure.</p> <p>In cybersecurity, that problem is quite possibly Denial of Service attacks.<span id="more-37253"></span></p> <h2>What is Denial of Service?</h2> <p>Often shortened to DoS, or DDoS (&#x201C;Distributed Denial of Service&#x201D;), this digital headache <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613331/the-first-ddos-attack-was-20-years-ago-this-is-what-weve-learned-since/">first hit back in 1999</a>, and has plagued the computer world ever since.</p> <p>DoS attacks function by one &#x201C;controlling&#x201D; computer forcing other computers to send an excess of data to a web server, generating so much activity that the system can no longer process genuine users.</p> <p>It&#x2019;s as if moviegoers, lined up to buy tickets for a show, were suddenly ambushed by a massive crowd cutting in front of them; the increase in traffic prevents those previously queued customers from ever reaching the ticket booth.</p> <h2>Risks to VoIP</h2> <p>As a concept, DoS probably feels fairly abstract. But its results are thoroughly real. <a href="https://techhq.com/2019/03/ddos-attacks-cost-us-businesses-10bn-per-year/">According to one study</a>, DoS strikes have affected a whopping 92% of North American businesses, preventing access to websites anywhere from 30 minutes to over four hours. Taken yearly, these attacks cause an average loss of over US$200,000, <i>per business</i>.</p> <p>And although VoIP isn&#x2019;t technically a website, <b>it&#x2019;s still vulnerable to DoS attacks</b>. Just as hacked computers can overload a server with superfluous data, <b>they can easily shut down a VoIP system with a swarm of calls, messages, and other requests for access</b>.</p> <p>That&#x2019;s not just theory: <a href="https://securityintelligence.com/hello-youve-been-compromised-upward-attack-trend-targeting-voip-protocol-sip/">DDoS is commonly listed as a vulnerability in VoIP</a>, and in practice, it&#x2019;s been used to shut down phone communication during larger cyberattacks. <a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/major-ddos-attacks-increased-967-this-year/">Considering that high-data DoS attacks were up 967% just in Q1 of 2019</a>, it&#x2019;s easy to see why you should take this security risk seriously.</p> <h2>The Solution</h2> <p>The best preventative measure against DoS attacks is to stop them from being able to occur in the first place: while you want your PBX to be accessible, you also want your system to ignore an excess of access attempts.</p> <p>In theory, this could be achieved by a firewall. The key, though, is that the protection can&#x2019;t consist only of asking for registration. After all, if your system is trying to verify the status of a request, it&#x2019;s still devoting processing power to that traffic&#x2014;thus still giving the DoS perpetrator what they want.</p> <p>To be effective, a firewall should instead stop processing a glut of suspicious requests altogether. This way, the system doesn&#x2019;t waste time with determining registration; it simply filters out the bad traffic, and puts genuine users back at the front of the line.</p> <p>With Wildix, this form of DoS protection comes built into all parts of the PBX system, from SIP to the web. It&#x2019;s even set up automatically, right from install, as part of its &#x201C;secure-by-design&#x201D; promise.</p> <p>But if there&#x2019;s one takeaway here, it&#x2019;s that DoS attacks are unlikely to go away anytime soon&#x2014;meaning it&#x2019;s all the more important to safeguard your systems against them.</p> <p><b><i>For more tips over managing office life and implementing software, <a href="https://www.wildix.com/wildix-magazine/">subscribe to receive our magazine for free!</a></i></b></p> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div> <span id="post-ratings-37253" class="post-ratings"><img id="rating_37253_1" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="1 Star"><img id="rating_37253_2" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="2 Stars"><img id="rating_37253_3" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="3 Stars"><img id="rating_37253_4" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="4 Stars"><img id="rating_37253_5" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_off.gif" alt="5 Stars"> (<strong>4</strong> votes, average: <strong>4.00</strong> out of 5)<br><span class="post-ratings-text" id="ratings_37253_text"></span><meta><meta><meta><meta><meta><meta><meta></span><span id="post-ratings-37253-loading" class="post-ratings-loading"> <img src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/loading.gif" width="16" class="post-ratings-image">Loading...</span> </div> </article>

<article id="post-23571" class="post-23571 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-blog-en category-technical-posts-en tag-sip tag-sip-and-xmpp tag-uc-solution tag-uc-system tag-xmpp"> <div class="entry-content"> <p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-23574 " src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP.jpg%201000w,%20https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP-300x122.jpg%20300w,%20https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP-768x312.jpg%20768w,%20https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP-624x253.jpg%20624w" alt="" width="706" srcset="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP.jpg 1000w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP-300x122.jpg 300w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP-768x312.jpg 768w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Platforms-Support-for-SIP-XMPP-624x253.jpg 624w"><i><span>What follows is an incomplete list of leading vendors who are using the main protocols described in one of the </span></i><a href="https://blog.wildix.com/sip-and-xmpp/"><i><span>previous blog articles</span></i></a><i><span>: SIP and XMPP. This list is based on my personal knowledge. I apologize in advance for any exclusions.</span></i></p> <p><span>The goal is to provide material for further analysis by the reader.</span></p> <h4><strong>Cisco</strong></h4> <p><span>Cisco was one of the first to embrace the potential of Unified Communication systems and open standards.</span></p> <p><span>Cisco historically selected MGCP and H.323 as VoIP protocols. SIP was later introduced, first on endpoints and then on servers.</span></p> <p><span>Jabber, Inc., is a provider of presence and messaging software. It&#x2019;s important to note that Cisco has acquired this company not the open standard Jabber (</span><i><span>jabber.org</span></i><span>). Jabber, by that point, had already been renamed to XMPP.</span></p> <h4><strong>Avaya</strong></h4> <p><span>Historically, Avaya uses H.323 as the default protocol for VoIP calls. Newer versions support both SIP and H.323 endpoints.</span><span><br> </span><span><br> </span><span>XMPP is the protocol used for chat and presence information.</span></p> <h4><strong>Unify</strong></h4> <p><span>Both XMPP (presence / chat) and SIP (calls) are supported.</span></p> <h4><strong>Shoretel XMPP</strong></h4> <p><span>Shoretel bases their presence / chat services on XMPP, while MGCP is the reference protocol for VoIP calls.</span></p> <h4><strong>IBM Sametime</strong></h4> <p><span>IBM Sametime users SIP for both calls and chat / presence services. Federation with XMPP communities and servers is also supported.</span></p> <h4><strong>WhatsApp</strong></h4> <p><span>WhatsApp uses a slimmed down version of XMPP to work better over mobile devices, which often have limited bandwidth available.</span></p> <h4><strong>Lync / Skype for Business (Federation)</strong></h4> <p><span>Microsoft has chosen to use a modified SIP / SIMPLE protocol for their Skype for Business UC platform (formerly known as Lync).</span></p> <p><span>Standard SIP over TCP transport is supported for trunking with other platforms.</span></p> <p><span>In a similar fashion, even if XMPP is not used by the platform itself to handle communications between users, XMPP is supported to federate with remote servers.</span></p> <h4><strong>Google</strong></h4> <p><span>Google has started to offer IM and real-time communications integrated into Gmail (for both private and corporate users) via its Google Talk service. The audio and video service is based on Jingle (an XMPP extension). In my opinion, the right choice would have been to use SIP.</span></p> <p><span>The visionary position of Google in bringing even complex applications to the browser has led to the creation of standards like WebRTC.</span></p> <p><span>After creating its social service Google+, Google introduced one of the main features of the social video conferences, branded as Hangouts.</span></p> <p><span>Since 2014, Hangouts have been based on WebRTC.</span><span><br> </span></p> <p><span>Hangouts have then taken the place of Google Talk even for one-to-one calls. Hangouts APIs have been deprecated since 2016.</span></p> <h4><strong>Mitel (federation)</strong></h4> <p><span>Both SIP and XMPP are supported. </span></p> <h4><strong>Switchvox</strong></h4> <p><span>Both SIP and XMPP are supported.</span></p> <h4><strong>Innovaphone</strong></h4> <p><span>Only SIP is supported.</span></p> <h4><strong>Ringcentral</strong></h4> <p><span>SIP is the protocol used for call termination. No reference to the usage of XMPP or the availability of advanced chat / presence information was found during the writing of this book.</span></p> <h3><strong>Wildix</strong></h3> <p><span>XMPP is used as a basis for presence, chat services, file sharing, and video sessions. SIP is used for calls, phones based presence, and voicemail notification.</span></p> <h3>Platforms Support for WebRTC</h3> <p><span>All of the platforms above can support WebRTC calls via SIP to WebRTC Gateways. However, this is technically not true WebRTC support.</span></p> <p><span>The only systems supporting WebRTC for more than trunking are Innovaphone, Wildix, Mitel, and Switchvox. Therefore, in most cases, WebRTC is still an add-on instead of being a built-in feature.</span></p> <h3>Conclusion</h3> <p><span><strong>SIP is the most popular</strong> and evolved communication <strong>protocol for VoIP</strong> and it is still widely supported in the industry. At Wildix, we built our platform on SIP.</span></p> <p><span>XMPP support is not as widespread as it should be. Some vendors are actually reducing Federation support, as much as possible, by using standard protocols. </span></p> <p><span><strong>WebRTC support</strong>, as indicated previously, is claimed by most vendors, but, in many cases, it is implemented by simply connecting separate gateways or by using complicated procedures.</span></p> <p><span>My suggestion, if you are looking for a next generation UC platform, is to<strong> require support for WebRTC, SIP, and XMPP,</strong> and to <strong>request a demonstration to see them at work.</strong> Systems that do not support WebRTC will become outdated in the next few years, so they should be avoided. Also, you should verify the usability of all the system&#x2019;s main features.</span><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1538569252694 vc_row-has-fill"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12"><div class="vc_column-inner "><div class="wpb_wrapper"><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-4"><div class="vc_column-inner "><div class="wpb_wrapper"> <div class="wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center"> <figure class="wpb_wrapper vc_figure"> <a href="https://www.wildix.com/buy-the-book" class="vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_shadow_border vc_box_border_grey"><img width="211" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dimitri-Osler-Book-211x300.jpg%20211w,%20https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dimitri-Osler-Book.jpg%20353w" class="vc_single_image-img attachment-medium" alt="" srcset="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dimitri-Osler-Book-211x300.jpg 211w, https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Dimitri-Osler-Book.jpg 353w"></a> </figure> </div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> <span id="post-ratings-23571" class="post-ratings"><img id="rating_23571_1" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_off.gif" alt="1 Star"><img id="rating_23571_2" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_off.gif" alt="2 Stars"><img id="rating_23571_3" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_off.gif" alt="3 Stars"><img id="rating_23571_4" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_off.gif" alt="4 Stars"><img id="rating_23571_5" src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_off.gif" alt="5 Stars"> (No Ratings Yet)<br><span class="post-ratings-text" id="ratings_23571_text"></span><meta><meta><meta><meta><meta><meta><meta></span><span id="post-ratings-23571-loading" class="post-ratings-loading"> <img src="https://blog.wildix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/loading.gif" width="16" class="post-ratings-image">Loading...</span> </p></div> </article>

<div id="mntl-sc-page_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content expert-content"> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>For most organizations, the single most important piece of <a href="https://www.thebalancesmb.com/best-office-supplies-4155089">office equipment</a> is the <a href="https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-answer-the-phone-properly-2947153">telephone</a>.&#xA0;Business class phone systems usually start out costing a few thousand dollars, and the price increases proportionally with the increase in the size of the system and the&#xA0;number of features you want.</p> </div> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-2" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>The business class phone systems discussed here are for offices with ten people or more.</p> </div> <a class="heading-toc" id="what-features-youll-need"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-5" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>The features that bring value to your business and connect your business to the world are going to increase the total cost of the telephone system. A phone system&apos;s salesperson will try to sell you all the bells and whistles (that&#x2019;s their job), but you need to look at each feature and decide if it will add value to your business or save you money.&#xA0;</p> </div> <a class="heading-toc" id="basic-features"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-8" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Here are some of the more common features that are available on a business telephone system. Each brand is different, so ask the salesperson for a complete list of options.</p> </div> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-10" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>The <a href="https://www.thebalancesmb.com/professional-automated-attendant-scripts-2533702">auto&#xA0;attendant</a>&#xA0;usually takes the place of a receptionist by presenting callers with a list of options to <a href="https://www.thebalancesmb.com/time-management-tips-for-inbound-phone-calls-2947334">route their call </a>(e.g., &#x201C;Press 3 to speak with somebody in Sales&#x201D;). It can also let callers directly dial a party&#x2019;s extension.</p> </div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-12" class="comp"> <ul><li><strong>Conferencing Features</strong>&#xA0;allow two or more extensions connect to share in a conversation. Usually, the default is two. If you require more than two, ask what the maximum number of participants is. Some systems only allow internal extensions to be conferenced. If you require external conference calls, ask about that, too.</li><li><strong>Automated Directory</strong>&#xA0;allows callers to look up an employee&#x2019;s extension by entering the first few letters of their name.</li><li><strong>Voice Mail</strong>&#xA0;allows messages to be left for <a href="https://www.thebalancesmb.com/top-ways-to-attract-quality-employees-2948197">employees</a> that are unavailable or on the phone. Some systems can forward voicemail messages to an employee&apos;s email and allow separate third-party voice mail equipment to interface with their equipment. Depending upon pricing, this could save you money.</li></ul> </p> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-14" class="comp"> <ul class="html-slice"><li><strong>Call Hold</strong>&#xA0;is the ability to put a call on hold while the user attends to other matters. Usually included with the system.</li><li><strong>Call Forwarding</strong>&#xA0;gives the user the ability to forward all calls to another extension or to voicemail temporarily.</li><li><strong>Speed Dial</strong>&#xA0;saves frequently used phone numbers and allows the user to dial it with a button push or two. It is a useful timesaver for frequently called numbers.</li><li><strong>Redial&#xA0;</strong>allows the last number called to be redialed with the touch of a button.</li><li><strong>Paging</strong>&#xA0;allows a user to speak over a public address system to call for an employee or give announcements.</li></ul> </p> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-16" class="comp"> <ul class="html-slice"><li><strong>Music on Hold</strong>&#xA0;gives your callers something to listen to while they are on hold. It can be music or prerecorded messages advertising your company.</li><li><strong>Back Up Power</strong>&#xA0;will provide an alternate source of electricity for 10 to 60 minutes in case of a power outage.</li></ul> </p> <a class="heading-toc" id="advanced-features"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-19" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Advanced features will add significant cost to the total system and will add an ongoing cost over the life of the system. However, this could be offset by reduced&#xA0;<a href="https://www.thebalancesmb.com/customer-service-and-customer-loyalty-4161633">customer service</a>&#xA0;and time-saving advantages they bring.</p> </div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-21" class="comp"> <ul><li><strong>Remote Location</strong>&#xA0;feature allows simple connections to off-site employees or small remote offices by simply dialing an internal extension.</li><li><strong>Find Me / Follow Me</strong>&#xA0;permits users to forward their phone on demand to another phone, cell phone, home phone, secretary, etc.</li><li><strong>Computer Telephone Integration (CTI)&#xA0;</strong>allows the phone system to interact with a computer system. Examples include the ability for a user to click on a telephone number on the screen and have the phone system automatically dial the number (reducing wrong numbers and saves time); or the passing of a customer&apos;s phone number to a computer when they call in order to pull up the customer&apos;s account and display it on the screen for the employee before answering the phone. This option is very pricey.</li></ul> </p> <a class="heading-toc" id="how-big-the-system-should-be"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-26" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>The next question you have to answer is where you want the phones. The following list identifies common places you will want to locate a phone extension:</p> </div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-28" class="comp"> <ul><li>Receptionist</li><li>Each office</li><li>Fax machine</li><li>Credit card terminals, data ports</li><li>Conference room</li><li>Shop/warehouse floor</li><li>Public areas (waiting room, hallways, entranceways, etc.)</li></ul> </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-30" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Next, you will have to determine how many simultaneous phone calls will be coming into and leaving the office. The sum total of incoming and outgoing calls at any given moment is the number of lines (or trunks) that you will need.</p> </div> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-32" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Common configurations are 3, 8, 12, 16, 24 or 48 lines. Larger systems have expansion slots so you can add more lines at a later date. Remember to account for future growth (25% is not uncommon). Important: if you underestimate this, callers will get a busy signal if all the lines are in use.</p> </div> <a class="heading-toc" id="finding-a-phone-system-dealer"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-35" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Finding a dealer is not hard. First, you can search the Web for &#x201C;Telephone Equipment &amp; Supplies&#x201D; to find a dealer close to you.</p> </div> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-37" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Business and office technology trade shows are also good places to start. Not only will you be able to meet the sales and support people, but you may be able to try out a system, too.</p> </div> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-39" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>Finally, the best way is to ask around. Ask people you know who have a business with an office. You can also get their assessment of the quality of the equipment and level of service that was provided.</p> </div> <a class="heading-toc" id="calculating-the-total-cost"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-42" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>The total cost of the system will consist of the following components:</p> </div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-44" class="comp"> <ul><li><strong>Base Unit / System</strong> is the unit that controls the whole telephone infrastructure. Cost is dependent on the number of features you have, the number of phone sets it can handle, and the number of lines coming from the telephone company.</li><li><strong>Handsets / Desk Sets</strong> are the units that sit on the desks or are attached to the wall. They come in several different styles, capabilities, and prices. Prices can range from $70 to $1,000. Examples include Basic (cheapest), Mid-level, Executive/High-End, Receptionist Sets (most expensive) and Conference Table Units. Other options include hands-free headsets and wireless connections. Most handsets are proprietary and will only work with a base system from that manufacturer. If you are replacing an existing phone system, the cost of all new handsets (if you change brands) may make an upgrade to the next higher model the only affordable solution you have.</li></ul> </p> <p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-46" class="comp"> <ul class="html-slice"><li><strong>Wiring</strong> is the blood vessels of the organization and must not be marginalized. If you are building an office, install extra wiring and receptacles in any area you think you may need a phone in the future. The cost will be a fraction of the cost if you have to go back later and punch holes in the ceilings and walls. If you are installing it in a building with existing wiring, have the dealer check the wiring for compatibility before you sign the contract.</li><li><strong>Installation and Initial Configuration</strong> will be the most time-consuming part of the project. Phone systems do not work right-out-of-the-box and most likely will have to be installed and initially configured by a trained technician. In order to get up and running as quickly as possible, make sure this is included in the contract. Other options that can be negotiated are maintenance, future modifications, and training for your employees.</li></ul> </p> <a class="heading-toc" id="making-the-final-decision"></a> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-51" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <p>The final decision rests upon your shoulders. Telephone system salespeople can be aggressive, but remember that you are &#x201C;the customer&#x201D; and you are in charge. In order to get the best price for the system you want, deliver your requirements to several companies and let them bid on the project. Make sure you get a detailed proposal that covers all the areas outlined above. You will not get back an apples-to-apples comparison, so ask that the cost of the features be listed separately (or detailed, if they are included as a package of features).</p> </div> <div id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-53" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html-sliced"> <p class="html-slice"> This will allow you to determine what is causing the differences in prices. If you are still unsure of a clear leader, ask to see a demo at an existing customer&#x2019;s site. Lastly, compare the proposals and choose the one that meets your needs, allows for growth and, most importantly, you feel most comfortable with.</p> </div> </div>