asterisk users - May 2005 - Opinions on Cisco 7960G, Polycom IP-600, and Snom 360

Hello,

We are planning to replace our current PBX with an Asterisk / SIP
solution, and are now trying to decide which phones to get.  My first
thought was the Cisco 7960G, but the Cisco licensing scheme irritates me
enough that I'll probably end up going with either the Polycom IP-600 or
Snom 360.

If anyone has any opinions of these phones, especially in comparison to
each other, I would really appreciate hearing them.  Is there a reason
you would recommend one of these phones over the others, or any reason
why you would steer people away from a particular model?

This is for a small office, with only 8-10 phones.  A receptionist and a
couple of office staff will be responsible for watching the "office"
line(s), and three or four support reps will be watching a technical
support queue.  Our environment dictates that we move around a lot, and
not necessarily be tied to our workstations, so being able to take calls
from any given phone is an important consideration.  In the same vein,
knowing the status of other staff (i.e. if they are on a call or idle)
would be very useful, and is something we are used to with our current
setup.

Thanks,

Daniel Bingham
dan@apci.net

Daniel, lots of info on this already in the forum, do some searching of
the archives. 

A lot of Cisco buyers have chosen to go with Polycom IP500's for our
exact same reason.

Cheers,
Dean

> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-
> bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Daniel Bingham
> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:36 AM
> To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
> Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Opinions on Cisco 7960G, Polycom IP-600,and
Snom
> 360
> 
> Hello,
> 
> We are planning to replace our current PBX with an Asterisk / SIP
> solution, and are now trying to decide which phones to get.  My first
> thought was the Cisco 7960G, but the Cisco licensing scheme irritates
me
> enough that I'll probably end up going with either the Polycom IP-600
or
> Snom 360.
> 
> If anyone has any opinions of these phones, especially in comparison
to
> each other, I would really appreciate hearing them.  Is there a reason
> you would recommend one of these phones over the others, or any reason
> why you would steer people away from a particular model?
> 
> This is for a small office, with only 8-10 phones.  A receptionist and
a
> couple of office staff will be responsible for watching the
"office"
> line(s), and three or four support reps will be watching a technical
> support queue.  Our environment dictates that we move around a lot,
and
> not necessarily be tied to our workstations, so being able to take
calls
> from any given phone is an important consideration.  In the same vein,
> knowing the status of other staff (i.e. if they are on a call or idle)
> would be very useful, and is something we are used to with our current
> setup.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Daniel Bingham
> dan@apci.net
> _______________________________________________
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

Those are all three great phones and the choice gets really
preferential...

I love my Polycoms and I recommend them all the time.  I give props to
the Cisco stuff but like you, I can't stand paying extra even if it is
just a few bucks here and there.

Polycoms can have a curve for figuring out the config files but once you
do it is a breeze.   The speakerphones are excellent and the features
work with * with no real headaches.  The IP500 (or even an IP300) is
sufficient for most users so save some bucks if you don't really need
the mini-browser and extra display lines of the 600.  An IP 500 can take
plenty of concurrent calls and the features are excellent.

I will let the others speak about SNOM and Cisco though I can say they
are well respected.  My preference is just Polycom.  If you get the
Polys let me know if you have trouble and I will assist you with config
off list.

Cheers,
Wiley


-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Daniel
Bingham
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 8:36 AM
To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Opinions on Cisco 7960G, Polycom IP-600,and
Snom 360

Hello,

We are planning to replace our current PBX with an Asterisk / SIP
solution, and are now trying to decide which phones to get.  My first
thought was the Cisco 7960G, but the Cisco licensing scheme irritates me
enough that I'll probably end up going with either the Polycom IP-600 or
Snom 360.

If anyone has any opinions of these phones, especially in comparison to
each other, I would really appreciate hearing them.  Is there a reason
you would recommend one of these phones over the others, or any reason
why you would steer people away from a particular model?

This is for a small office, with only 8-10 phones.  A receptionist and a
couple of office staff will be responsible for watching the "office"
line(s), and three or four support reps will be watching a technical
support queue.  Our environment dictates that we move around a lot, and
not necessarily be tied to our workstations, so being able to take calls
from any given phone is an important consideration.  In the same vein,
knowing the status of other staff (i.e. if they are on a call or idle)
would be very useful, and is something we are used to with our current
setup.

Thanks,

Daniel Bingham
dan@apci.net
_______________________________________________
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Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
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   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

Reviewing the IP-600 and IP-500 further, the spec sheets have me a
little confused.  The IP-500 states it supports three lines, and the
IP-600 six lines.  What is confusing me is that on the IP-600 spec sheet
(http://www.polycom.com/common/pw_item_show_doc/1,1276,1820,00.pdf),
under the IETF SIP bullet, is says "up to 3 dedicated lines, 2 call
appearances per line."  This same wording is used under the same bullet
on the IP-500 spec sheet
(http://www.polycom.com/common/pw_item_show_doc/1,1276,1042,00.pdf).

Can someone who has used both phones clear this up?  Does the IP-600
fully support 6 lines under SIP, or is the line functionality of the
IP-500 and IP-600 identical?

Thanks,

Daniel Bingham
dan@apci.net

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Daniel
Bingham
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 10:36 AM
To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Opinions on Cisco 7960G, Polycom IP-600,and
Snom 360

Hello,

We are planning to replace our current PBX with an Asterisk / SIP
solution, and are now trying to decide which phones to get.  My first
thought was the Cisco 7960G, but the Cisco licensing scheme irritates me
enough that I'll probably end up going with either the Polycom IP-600 or
Snom 360.

If anyone has any opinions of these phones, especially in comparison to
each other, I would really appreciate hearing them.  Is there a reason
you would recommend one of these phones over the others, or any reason
why you would steer people away from a particular model?

This is for a small office, with only 8-10 phones.  A receptionist and a
couple of office staff will be responsible for watching the "office"
line(s), and three or four support reps will be watching a technical
support queue.  Our environment dictates that we move around a lot, and
not necessarily be tied to our workstations, so being able to take calls
from any given phone is an important consideration.  In the same vein,
knowing the status of other staff (i.e. if they are on a call or idle)
would be very useful, and is something we are used to with our current
setup.

Thanks,

Daniel Bingham
dan@apci.net
_______________________________________________
Asterisk-Users mailing list
Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

Apologies for asking more questions so quickly after my last one.  A few
more questions about the Polycom phones:  

Searching the list I found a few references like this:

"I would also like to figure out how to make the phone *ring* when
you're already on another line, but haven't had a chance to seriously
explore it yet."

Is this still a problem in the latest firmware?  This could sink my
hopes of going with a Polycom phone if there isn't a way to have them
give an audible alert that another line is ringing while you're already
on the phone.

The Wiki says the IP-500 requires an additional chip to support power
over ethernet.  Is this true of the IP-600 as well?

If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would really appreciate
it.

Thanks,

Daniel Bingham
dan@apci.net



-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Wiley
Siler
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:14 AM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Opinions on Cisco 7960G, Polycom
IP-600,and Snom 360

Those are all three great phones and the choice gets really
preferential...

I love my Polycoms and I recommend them all the time.  I give props to
the Cisco stuff but like you, I can't stand paying extra even if it is
just a few bucks here and there.

Polycoms can have a curve for figuring out the config files but once you
do it is a breeze.   The speakerphones are excellent and the features
work with * with no real headaches.  The IP500 (or even an IP300) is
sufficient for most users so save some bucks if you don't really need
the mini-browser and extra display lines of the 600.  An IP 500 can take
plenty of concurrent calls and the features are excellent.

I will let the others speak about SNOM and Cisco though I can say they
are well respected.  My preference is just Polycom.  If you get the
Polys let me know if you have trouble and I will assist you with config
off list.

Cheers,
Wiley


-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Daniel
Bingham
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 8:36 AM
To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Opinions on Cisco 7960G, Polycom IP-600,and
Snom 360

Hello,

We are planning to replace our current PBX with an Asterisk / SIP
solution, and are now trying to decide which phones to get.  My first
thought was the Cisco 7960G, but the Cisco licensing scheme irritates me
enough that I'll probably end up going with either the Polycom IP-600 or
Snom 360.

If anyone has any opinions of these phones, especially in comparison to
each other, I would really appreciate hearing them.  Is there a reason
you would recommend one of these phones over the others, or any reason
why you would steer people away from a particular model?

This is for a small office, with only 8-10 phones.  A receptionist and a
couple of office staff will be responsible for watching the "office"
line(s), and three or four support reps will be watching a technical
support queue.  Our environment dictates that we move around a lot, and
not necessarily be tied to our workstations, so being able to take calls
from any given phone is an important consideration.  In the same vein,
knowing the status of other staff (i.e. if they are on a call or idle)
would be very useful, and is something we are used to with our current
setup.

Thanks,

Daniel Bingham
dan@apci.net
_______________________________________________
Asterisk-Users mailing list
Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
_______________________________________________
Asterisk-Users mailing list
Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

On Thu, 2005-05-05 at 17:20 -0500, Daniel Bingham wrote:
> Reviewing the IP-600 and IP-500 further, the spec sheets have me a
> little confused.  The IP-500 states it supports three lines, and the
> IP-600 six lines.  What is confusing me is that on the IP-600 spec sheet
> (http://www.polycom.com/common/pw_item_show_doc/1,1276,1820,00.pdf),
> under the IETF SIP bullet, is says "up to 3 dedicated lines, 2 call
> appearances per line."  This same wording is used under the same
bullet
> on the IP-500 spec sheet
> (http://www.polycom.com/common/pw_item_show_doc/1,1276,1042,00.pdf).
Looks like a copy & paste error :)
> Can someone who has used both phones clear this up?  Does the IP-600
> fully support 6 lines under SIP, or is the line functionality of the
> IP-500 and IP-600 identical?
The IP 600 definitely has 6 separate lines. I have one on my desk, 4
lines to my own asterisk, 1 to another customer asterisk, and the 6th
one to a third asterisk box...

Regards,
Adam

-- 
 -- 
Adam Goryachev
Website Managers
Ph:  +61 2 8304 0000                        adam@websitemanagers.com.au
Fax: +61 2 9345 4396                        www.websitemanagers.com.au

Hi Dan -
> "I would also like to figure out how to make the phone *ring* when
> you're already on another line, but haven't had a chance to
seriously
> explore it yet."
>
> Is this still a problem in the latest firmware?  This could sink my
> hopes of going with a Polycom phone if there isn't a way to have them
> give an audible alert that another line is ringing while you're already
> on the phone.
The phone will not ring for a second call when you're already on a 
line, but with the right settings it will give you a call waiting beep 
in the earpiece.  So there is, at least, some audible indication of 
another call.  It only beeps once, though.  On the IP500's the LED on 
the top of the phone will flash, and on the IP600's the LED for the 
line of the new call will flash.

> The Wiki says the IP-500 requires an additional chip to support power
> over ethernet.  Is this true of the IP-600 as well?
The IP600 supports PoE natively.  Use any ethernet cable, and you can 
get power from a PoE switch.  The IP500 and IP300 need a proprietary 
cable that has the PoE chip embedded in it.  They run for about $35 
apiece.

- Noah