| Many small to medium sized businesses are looking to | | | | - Easy-to-use management interface |
| VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for their | | | | It's understandable for a small business to prefer a |
| communications needs, mainly to reduce costs and to | | | | VoIP system that is simpler, especially if the business |
| combine network features into an all-inclusive | | | | has a small number of employees or doesn't have the |
| communications package. | | | | luxury of having a dedicated IT person. |
| In an equipment test, businesses were asked to test | | | | While it was hard for businesses to choose between |
| five systems: the NetVanta 7100, the Quick Edition, the | | | | the Smart Business Communications System and the |
| Smart Business Communications System, the PBXtray | | | | NetVanta 7100 products, they found NetVanta's |
| and the Business Communications Manager 50, all | | | | browser interface and management interface to be |
| from various vendors. Businesses were asked to | | | | pluses. The Smart Business Communications System |
| determine what features were the most important | | | | also scored well with its network monitoring capabilities, |
| when shopping for a cost-effective VoIP system for | | | | ability to work offline and greater add-on features and |
| less than 100 users. Test parameters were focused | | | | services. |
| on the voice component of unified communications | | | | In summary, if I were a business owner, I would still be |
| systems. | | | | reviewing the capabilities and functions of many |
| Businesses chose the Quick Edition as the winner | | | | systems, since every business is going to have |
| based on the following: | | | | different needs and preferences. While VoIP is not a |
| - Simplicity of deployment, use, adding users and of | | | | one-size-fits-all telecom product, hopefully businesses |
| management. | | | | will not ask themselves "Should I use VoIP?", but |
| - The ability to use an existing networking infrastructure | | | | instead ask, "Which type of VoIP should I use? |
| - Speedy of deployment | | | | |