Here is a checklist for purchasing a new or used phone system. Use this checklist to help communicate with a phone system dealer.

1.) How many phones do I need?

2.) How many lines? (dial tones) This includes voice channels on a T-1

3.) Do you need or currently have a T-1? (if you are not sure make a not to ask a dealer about it.)

4.) Do you need voice mail?

5.) Will you answer the phone live or do you need an automated attendant. Hint: Most businesses should use an auto attendant after hours at least.

6.) Do you need wireless phones. Note: It is not generally a good idea to go with very many wireless phones. They tend to get lost, dropped, accidentally taken home by staff, and don’t have enough buttons to do things quickly and easily. However some staff may need one. It depends on the application.

7.) When will you need the system installed?

8.) Do you have remote workers or telecommuters that you want to provide service for?

9.) How fast is your business growing? Where will you be in 1 year? In three years?

10.) Will you need wiring for the system or do you have existing wiring in your building? If you are not sure just ask a dealer to have someone take a look for you. In most cases there will not be a cost involved for this.

That will get you started. If you have some questions of your own that you would like to get answered then please post your questions here or email us at contact@stargateti.com

There are many types of phone systems available in Seattle. Here are reviews of some of the options.

1) NEC DSX: This is a great option that comes highly recommended. It is one of the best phone systems available in the world. With solutions for small to medium size and enterprise class systems pretty much any need you may have is covered by NEC.

Contact us at contact@stargateti.com to get a quote on a system that is tailored of your business.

2) If you have a need for IP networking of multiple systems at multiple location then take a look at the Avaya IP Office. Avaya does a great job at IP networking. The systems are competitively priced and meet any technological need you can throw at it.

Other systems you may run across in the Seattle area include

Toshiba: Haven’t seen a lot of dealers for these so I would be careful.

Aastra: I would be cautious here as this is a newer phone system and it is IP based which is often not a good solution for many businesses.

NEC Elite, Aspire, UX: These are great products. Usually intended for larger businesses. If you have under 30 phones the DSX is probably a better fit for you in most applications.

Talkswitch: IP based phone system. Reletively newer system. Unknown how many dealers are around to support this system. Make sure you understand the implications of IP before you go with a system like this.

InterTel: Look at the NEC products above instead. InterTel has been making many changes.

Mitel: Generally a good choice for hotel applications or very large systems with thousand of users.

Contact us at contact@stargateti.com to get a quote on a system that is tailored of your business.

Have questions on another system? Email us or post your question here. We would be happy to answer them.

What is the best phone system in Seattle?

Well it’s the one that fit’s our business and your budget at the same time.

The options for phone systems are overwhelming when you start to look around. Do I need VoIP? Can I just get one online? Can it get a system at an office supply store? What is the deal with all the details and the strange complicated way these systems go together? They are just phones right?

Oh if only it were so simple. Here is a quick easy guide to help you get a phone system.

First follow these simple guidelines and you will steer clear of most problems.

1) Unless you only need two 0r three phones do not buy the system at an office supply store or off a shelf somewhere. Why? You get no support. None. Zip. Nada. So only use this type of system if you only need 2 to 3 phones and you have zero special needs for a voice mail or other features.

2) Use the internet to learn but work with a local dealer of telephone systems to actually get your phone system. Why you might ask? Can’t I just search the internet for the cheapest price in the nation and then get it shipped to me? Sure but who is going to install it? Phone systems all tend to have a lot of the same features. So the most important thing is getting the features you need and someone who can set those features for you.

But won’t this cost more? Yes but even in this economic climate it does not cost as much as trying to learn how to program a phone system for yourself.

Beware of the cheapest deal. You want a good deal NOT the cheapest deal. The lowest price invariably comes with the worst service. Because when it get’s really competitive the dealers have to cut install time. The worst service is a phone system installed with default programming. It does nothing you want it to do. The dealer then says “Here is a user guide -good luck.” and walks out the door. When you ask for that feature you wanted. “Oh well we will have to charge you by the hour to program that for you.” So if you get three bids work with the person you trust who had a good price.

But what about buying the cheapest thing on the internet and then finding someone local to install it? You will pay standard telephone technician rates instead of the discounted rates usually offered for new installs. This will cancel out and savings you would have made.

3)Go with a well known brand like NEC or Avaya so you know you won’t be one of those unfortunate businesses that get’s stuck with one of the many technology experiments that get created in the phone system world every year. A lot of phone system manufactures come and go so make sure you get a system with some history that has been installed by the thousands.

NEC and Avaya are brands recommended for most small to medium businesses. Avaya lineage can be traced back to the earliest days of the telephone. NEC has systems in every type of business you can imagine. They also manufacture tons of other types of electronics.

So what do you do now that you know how to avoid the most common mistakes?

1) Write down what you need. How many phone? How many lines? Voice mail? Automated attendant? Remote IP phones? If you are not sure about these things it’s OK to guess to get you started. Take this information and contact a local dealer or two and ask them to provide a quote.

2) Pick the dealer you trust who has a decent price. Ask them all you questions. Tell them what concerns you. If you do not feel like you are being listened to then bail. Work with another company.

That will get you started in the right direction. Post questions here if you have them. Or email us we are happy to help.

contact@stargateti.com