I've recently taken on my first IT role as the sole manager for a small school, and I've been trying to keep our network running smoothly. One major issue is our VOIP phone system; we currently use an Avaya IP500 V2, and while it sometimes works fine, it has been increasingly unreliable. The phones frequently cut in and out, have slow response times, and occasionally reboot on their own. My boss is fed up and wants to replace the system, but I want to make sure I choose an option that won't create more problems. What are some good VOIP phone system recommendations that can easily integrate with our existing setup? I've noticed a lot of cloud solutions popping up, but I'm concerned about ongoing costs and prefer managing equipment onsite. Additionally, some employees have experience with softphones and would benefit from being able to use those alongside desk phones. I'm open to switching brands and would love your insights on the best options available.
4 Answers
I've had great experiences with Grandstream PBXs. They're affordable and reliable, and run on Asterisk with a user-friendly interface. Plus, you can integrate your existing phones without being locked into their hardware, which is a huge bonus. Their hybrid cloud system is impressive too, especially for remote access.
We switched to 3CX a while back and it’s been a great decision. It's easy to manage and super intuitive. Just be aware they had a bit of a security scare a few years back, but overall, I find it to be the best value out there for on-prem solutions.
If you're considering alternatives, look into moving to Teams for your dial plans. It's been a game changer for us—super reliable and integrates well. Just make sure to check your network's capacity to handle it, as some people have complained about uptime issues depending on their setup.
I previously worked with Avaya but now use Zoom Phone and it's a vast improvement. It's a breeze to set up features like call queues and auto attendants, and everything is way easier to configure compared to Avaya. I can't recommend an on-prem solution for a smaller company anymore—Zoom has been really solid for us.
I've heard mixed reviews about Teams' uptime too. Some companies I work with seem to have a lot of issues, so I can see why you're cautious.