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Question 1
Why should I choose a VoIP Public Branch Exchange Telephone Centre (PBX TC) and not a
conventional one ?
Answer
Conventional PBX TCs do not avoid conventional phone call tarrifs of Telephone Companys
(TelCos) like Greek OTE or British B.T. In addition, such TCs are based on working
on the old conventional analogue telephone network which brings phenomena like hiss and
delays. On the other hand a modern digital TC like abaxs' "Easy IP-Phone" is immune to such
problems.
Question 2
There are various alternative providers who claim that by purchasing their own solution,
one can call for free abroad and the rest of the country (pan-hellenic).
Why should I choose the "EasyIP-Phone" solution by abax Consultants ?
Answer
For too many reasons. Here are the most important ones :
a. In a business environment the alternative provider cannot provide the client
calls abroad with absolutely no cost. For the rest of the country, perhaps.
There is a reason for this. EETT (Hellenic Coverning Body for Telecommunications
and Post) does not allow this.
Indeed, call costs can be a fraction of the cost of, say, OTE, but in no case those
some calls are free.
b. Cost transfer : Most of the times, the alternative provider will show low cost
bills on landline telephone calls around the world and increased costs in telephone
calls to mobile devices to various mobile providers in the same country.
c. Other reasons. "EasyIP-Phone" can get hold of messages for every single phone
extension individually. Whether that being a call initiated from the outside world
to the internal network or from the inside to the inside or from the internal
network to the outside world; any combination. Also, "EasyIP-Phone" can dispatch
voicemail to electronic mail (via attachments).
Also "EasyIP-Phone" can record any possible phone calls taking place in its domain;
Whether that be for monitoring purposed or traing purposes or any other reason.
There are many other reasons, too many to be accounted in this FAQ.
Question 3
I would like to initiate a call from a VoIP PBX (Private Branch Exchange, i.e.
Telephone Centre) to a simple outside landline. Is it possible ?
Answer
Naturally. Every digital PBX (including "EasyIP-Phone") can also handle any given,
communication medium. This means that it can handle conventional telephone lines
like Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines, Integrated Services Digital Network
(ISDN) lines, ISDN PRI (Primary Rate Interface) or BRI (Basic Rate Interface) lines;
Even GSM (mobile) trunks can be handled with the use of special hardware costing
almost the same as the rest of the equipment for other kind of lines.
All this can be handled either with the use of VoIP or with the use of other
communication (trunks) means. Just ask us and we will be more the happy to answer
any of your questions.
Question 4
Could I initiate a call from "EasyIP-Phone" to a computer, e.g. Skype ?
Answer
Yes. "EasyIP-Phone" PBXs are capable of connecting to a simple PC.
As long as the receiving end has a connection to the internet and a corresponding
telecommunication software (e.g. Skype).
But not only that; "EasyIP-Phone" has the ability to complete such a connection
without the need for the "EasyIP-Phone" user to utilize equipment like a headphones/
microphone set. All the "EasyIP-Phone" user has to do is lift his VoIP phone receiver
and either answer an incoming Skype call or initiate a call to a Skype user from this
same VoIP Telephone device. All this with the same easy of use.
Question 5
Could I possible receive a Skype call to "EasyIP-Phone" ?
Answer
Yes. As described above. If a Skype account can call a user behind "EasyIP-Phone",
the same user can call any Skype user from his VoIP device.
Question 6
How much does a typical VoIP telephone device cost ?
Answer
A VoIP device will start at about 50 Euros and will end at about 800 Euros.
A typical VoIP device will cost about 90 to 100 Euros. That sames device is ideal
for any possible VoIP use that the VoIP user will need.
Question 7
How much will it cost for a user to call from "EasyIP-Phone" to another VoIP PBX ?
Answer
It depends. The cost is minimum naturally. However it depends on the VoIP providers'
location, the geographical distances of the call being initiated etc. An average cost
for a VoIP phone call is around 0.04 Euro (4 Cents) per minute, at least to western
destinations. It all depends on the agreement the end-user has with his/her provider.
Question 8
I would like to call someone in Greece from "EasyIP-Phone" PBX. How much will it cost ?
Answer
I this give scenario, it depends on the conventional provider. If the user decides
to use EasyIP-Phone, he will use it (in this scenario) by utilizing through EasyIP-Phone
a conventional telephone line like a landline (a POTS/ISDN BRI or ISDN PRI line).
In that case the user houses in his company building one, two, three or more conventional
lines. These lines can be POTS, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI etc. with some local provider (OTE,
Tellas, HOL etc.). The cost depends on the provider used and the contract signed by the
company people with that provider.
Question 9
I would like to make a call from EasyIP-Phone to a relative of mine living abroad
(western countries - USA, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Alaska etc.).
Can I ? And if yes, how much will it cost me ?
Answer
Yes, you can. The user can make a call to any country in the world. All that is
needed for this is for the user (or his company) to have a VoIP contract with a VoIP
provider. Also the receiving end should be able to answer to some kind of a telephone
device (landline, VoIP line, Skype etc.).
Again, the cost is minimum, starting at 0.04 Euros and depends on variables like
geographic location, provider and providers' contract.
Question 10
Why should we spend all that money and install your "EasyIP-Phone" installation and
not use Skype through the various computers we have at the office and get on with it ?
Answer
This is a possible solution. However, there are some things Skype cannot do.
Skype (and products like Skype), cannot function like a conventional line PBX.
Such products also cannot route calls to a local network of tens or hundreds of nodes.
They (such products) cannot get hold of voicemail, nor can they send voicemail messages
as e-mail attachments to any receipients on the network.
They cannot hold a comprehensive archive of all calls, whether that be incoming/outgoing
or calls initiated inside the network or any other kind of call to local database that can
be accessible to anyone (depending what the client needs) inside the network from any given
computer our outside the local network.
Also, software products like Skype as an stand-alone application cannot hold statistics and data
and provide all that in graphical format to the network admin / owner.
Simply put, EasyIP-Phone has way too many features to be numbered here.
VoIP software solutions like Skype is not in any way capable of acting like a full featured
VoIP BPX for small to medium to large scale companies. By using software solutions for VoIP is
accessing one phone call to two parties at any given time.
Seriously though, who can put a tag on a full-featured solution like "EasyIP-Phone" ?
Question 11
Could I make a phone call through EasyIP-Phone from a place outside the local network ?
Answer
Naturally. For this specific scenario the user will need to own specific equipment that will
allow him to connect to EasyIP-Phone from outside the network.
Such a scenario can be accomplished by using a simple PDA like an iPhone or a Blackberry.
Those same devices will need to have a VPN software client installed to make them connect
(securely) to the inside network, hence make (or receive) the VoIP phone call.
Never be afraid to ask us.
Question 12
How about company GSMs/mobiles ? Could we integrate them to the EasyIP-Phone PBX ?
Answer
Naturally. Like all other connection channels (POTS/ISDN BRI/ISDN PRI and so on), all that
is needed is a special kind of add-on hardware. Most of the times, this hardware will
accommodate up to three GSM numbers. These numbers work from within EasyIP-Phone BPX.
So, for example, a road-warrior is getting called by an associate from another company
through EasyIP-Phone. This means that one calls the central offices number (landline) and
ask for the road-warrior. The road-warrior being a road-warrior is on the road. The PBX
operator will forward the call, like any other call to the road-warriors' GSM on the inside.
To the outside (the caller), this is seamless and all he/she knows is that he managed to
find the road-warrior.
Naturally, exctly the opossite can also happen.
Another scenario being that the company executive (or any other company employee) wants to
talk to the company road-warrior. Only that he (the road-warrior) is out again. Depending on
the GSM contract the company has agreed upon (most of the times, GSM numbers given in multiples
of 5 numbers and zero-cost for intra-company calls), the PBX operator will forward the call to
the road-warrior like the call being an internal one. No cost for this last scenario.
The possibilities are, indeed, numbing and limitless.
For any specific scenarios and questions, please don't hesitate to ask us.
Question 13
How much will a solution like "EasyIP-Phone" will cost our company ?
Answer
EasyIP-Phone consists of four indispensable parts.
The actual PBX/Server, the conventional lines hardware interface, the abax Consultants
software and the VoIP telephone devices.
A simple VoIP solution for a VoIP PBX can start at about 1,000 Euros to 1,500 Euros
and end up at about 15,000 Euros. The VoIP telephone devices cost at about 50 Euros to
about 700 Euros with a complete "clever" and user-friendly device costing about 100 Euros.
The VoIP PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches cost from 460 Euros to about 7,500 Euros.
It is essential the prospective client to give us a thorough picture of his network
infrastructure and be precise on what he needs in order for us to provide him with a
proper VoIP solution with the most functionality and the least cost.
Question 14
How must will EasyIP-Phone cost for an installation with four telephone devices, a PoE
switch and the actual EasyIP-Phone PBX/Server with four (4) POTS (or four ISDN) lines ?
Answer
The cost for four conventional lines (four ISDN BRI lines or four POTS lines or even two
ISDN BRI lines and two POTS lines) is about the same.
The actual PBX/Server including the "abax Consultants" software will cost about 1,500.00 Euros.
The VoIP telephone devices cost is 100.00 Euros per piece.
The EasyIP-Phone PBX/Server provided is a high-end server with redundant Power Supply Units,
Hot swappable (redundant) SCSI Hard Disk Drives in RAID 01 (Disk Mirroring).
What the above means is that if a power supply unit dies, the system keeps on functioning.
In the same fashion, if one of the two SCSI Hard Disk Drives dies, again the system keeps functioning
without any hickups or downtime.
The faulty part (SCSI HDD / PSU) is pulled out of the system, a new one is installed, and the
system keeps functioning with zero down-time.
The system comes with 3 Year Warranty.
"abax Consultants" also suggest the purchase of a 2KVA (2,000 Volt/Ampheres) UPS (uninterruptable
power supply unit) for supporting the telephone centre.
The UPS costs around 400 Euros. More specifically :
EasyIP-Phone PBX (RAID server + 24-port 10/100 PoE switch
+ ISDN 2-port card (four voice channels))
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1,580.00 Euro
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4 VoIP telephone devices
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400.00 Euro
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EasyIP-Phone BPX UPS
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400.00 Euro
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Total Cost
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2,380.00 Euro
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Please note the prices above are indicative and not permanent. If the client
would like to order his equipment from a third party, that is fine by us.
abax Consultants would be more that happy to accommodate the client with his newly acquired
product, set it up, configure it and hand it over to the client.
Again, prices are negotiable and not permanent.
Question 15
It's too expensive. Is there any other way to pay for this ?
Answer
Yes. The client can use any kind of payment he desires. Like leasing. For more
information, please don't hesitate to contact the "abax Consultants" sales department.
There are other ways of paying the product like, for example, paying up front 50% of the
equipments total cost, then paying the rest off in monthly instalments and so on.
Question 16
I have a friend of a friend who knows someone who knows of such technologies and claims he
can do much better that what you describe here. Why are you so expensive for this ?
Answer
"Cheap is expensive". Something might seem it's cheap but it's the continuous function of
the product that defines how good it is.
Also, please note that an equivalent commercial solution to this start at about 18,000.00 Euros
(note: "starts at 18,000.00 Euros").
When the client decides to go with a commercial solution should also keep in mind the maintenance
contract details, the total cost of ownership and so on.
In regards to "EasyIP-Phone" cost, it's always indicative and is always defined by what the client
wants.
Remember we are extremely flexible and always available to our dear clients.
So, don't be afraid to pick up that phone receiver and call us for a quote; Even if the machine
you're calling us from is not an "EasyIP-Phone" PBX !
Question 17
I cannot remember the "EasyIP-Phone" features. Could you please refresh my memory along with a
quick explanation ?
Answer
Below is a quick feature list along with a quick explanation of each feature :
1. It can operate with VoIP providers and VoIP trunks along with conventional (telco) lines
like ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI, POTS, GSM, Skype etc.o
2. It can register any requested function on any device inside the local area network. It can
also record and register calls from the outside world to the inside, from the inside to the outside
world, from the inside network to the inside network and so on.
On the same issue, all those logs, can be registered to a relational Database and displayed to the
PBX owner/operator at any given time in graphical format from any terminal (PC) inside the network,
but also outside the known network.
3. The PBX can interface and operate with any VoIP provider as well as any kind of conventional
line (POTS/ISDN/GSM etc.).
Question 18
Is it possible to show all the EasyIP-Phone features ?
Answer
Shown below is the complete list of features for EasyIP-Phone :
Call Features
ADSI On-Screen Menu System
Alarm Receiver
Append Message
Authentication
Automated Attendant
Blacklists
Blind Transfer
Call Detail Records
Call Forward on Busy
Call Forward on No Answer
Call Forward Variable
Call Monitoring
Call Parking
Call Queuing
Call Recording
Call Retrieval
Call Routing (DID & ANI)
Call Snooping
Call Transfer
Call Waiting
Caller ID
Caller ID Blocking
Caller ID on Call Waiting
Calling Cards
Conference Bridging
Database Store / Retrieve
Database Integration
Dial by Name
Direct Inward System Access
Distinctive Ring
Distributed Universal Number Discovery (DUNDi)
Do Not Disturb
E911
ENUM
Fax Transmit and Receive
Flexible Extension Logic
Interactive Directory Listing
Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
Local and Remote Call Agents
Macros
Music On Hold
Music On Transfer:
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- Flexible Mp3-based System
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- Random or Linear Play
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- Volume Control
Predictive Dialer
Privacy
Open Settlement Protocol (OSP)
Overhead Paging
Protocol Conversion
Remote Call Pickup
Remote Office Support
Roaming Extensions
Route by Caller ID
SMS Messaging
Spell / Say
Streaming Media Access
Supervised Transfer
Talk DetectionM
Text-to-Speech (via Festival)
Three-way Calling
Time and Date
Transcoding
Trunking
VoIP Gateways
Voicemail:
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- Visual Indicator for Message Waiting
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- Stutter Dialtone for Message Waiting
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- Voicemail to email
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- Voicemail Groups
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- Web Voicemail Interface
Zapateller
Codecs
ADPCM
G.711 (A-Law & μ-Law)
G.722
G.722.1 licensed from Polycom®
G.722.1 Annex C licensed from Polycom®
G.723.1 (pass through)
G.726
G.729a
GSM
iLBC
Linear
LPC-10
Speex
VoIP Protocols
Google Talk
H.323
IAX (Inter-Asterisk eXchange)
Jingle/XMPP
MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol
SCCP (Cisco® Skinny®) SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
UNIStim
Traditional/Conventional Telephony Protocols
E&M
E&M Wink
Feature Group D
FXS
FXO
GR-303
Loopstart
Groundstart
Kewlstart
MF and DTMF support
Robbed-bit Signaling (RBS) Types
MFC-R2
ISDN Protocols
AT&T 4ESS
EuroISDN PRI and BRI
Lucent 5ESS
National ISDN 1
National ISDN 2
NFAS
Nortel DMS100
Q.SIG
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