NEC's IPK, it is a key telephone system that has hybrid capability. You can start with a key system and add VoIP cards to the same box as you develop and grow. YOu can even have a mix of KSU style digital line cards, for your T-1 ADSL or ISDN line to handle distribution and multilines, and have SOME stations use VoIP cards and phones.
I've installed quite a few of these across many different industries and have yet to have a customer NOT like it.
NEC makes EXCELLENT handsets, they also incorporate the most powerful (AND TESTED) featureset available.
One word of warning, DO NOT USE AN UNAUTHORIZED RESELLER OR TRY TO INSTALL IT YOURSELF!!!
NEC will void your warranty as fast as you can dial 911. GO to NEC's Corporate Netrworks Site
http://www.cng.nec.comUse THEIR dealer locator,
http://www.necunifiedsolutions.com/main/FindReseller/FinFindAReseller.asp? to find an AUthorized reseller. MANY companies will advertise as NEC dealers, this does not make them authorized, factory trained or NEC supported.
You will find Avaya, Samsung, Toshiba and Panasonic are a fair bit cheaper (I've sold, installed all of them too)Nortel makes a GREAT key system, and excellent handsets, but their VoIP upgrading is pricey and dodgy at best, the main difference is that NEC's system will actually work as they say it will (most people are still trying to get their systems to work, yet alone handle even the most basic KSU features effectively), the installation time is reduced and the overall tone quality is superior to cheaper products. I've seen a phone company SO rushed to ebter the VoIP market that they released a big VoIP PBX that wasn't even able to transfer calls internally! Get the receptionist involved as SHE will ask relevant questions that you won't think of. Even the SIMPLEST features can be absent from expensive systems.
PLUS, it gonna be easy as hell to expand and grow into VoIP whether gradually a few lines/stations at a time or a complete conversion.
NOTE: IVR will be a feature of the Voice Mail card, not the KSU itself.
Whatever you do DON'T BUY USED Meridian phones.
In MOST cases they are pulled form an old Centrex based system and are completely USELESS with the Nortel KSU or the KSU has an old processor and is expensive to get upgrades for and you will have to pay for all software upgrades yourself. I have seen at least a dozen companies buy auctioned systems etc. and ended up just eating the cost and buyig a complete system.
People always look for CHEAP in a phone system, it's the backbone of your business, it's up to YOU to decide how important your company's communications are, I would suggest they far more valuable than your computer network in most cases.
