Aastra 5000
The Aastra 5000 offers compelling deployment options and scalability, as well as applications capability, to Aastra’s large legacy base and to vie for net-new enterprise accounts in Europe. (1/19/2011)

Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Enterprise
OmniPCX Enterprise offers scalability, deployment options and an applications portfolio to make the Alcatel-Lucent IP PBX a contender for a great many enterprise accounts. (8/24/2010)

Avaya Aura Communication Manager
Avaya Aura Communication Manager offers configuration and business continuity options and an applications and endpoint selection that make it suitable for many types of enterprises. A primary challenge is differentiation in a crowded market. (8/31/2010)

Cisco Unified Communications Manager
A disruptive force in PBX markets, all eyes keep close watch on Cisco. However, several competitors have kept up to speed with Unified Communications Manager’s configuration options and applications support. (8/24/2010)

Mitel Communications Manager
Allowing the company to address a wide array of enterprises, Mitel IP telephony software can be packaged and delivered in a number different ways, including the venerable turnkey 3300 ICP and market leading virtual options. (8/9/2010)

Nortel Communication Server 1000
Due to Avaya’s roadmap and migration strategy for the Communication Server 1000, and due to competitive forces, the installed base of the Nortel-developed system is likely to shrink quickly. (2/22/2010)

ShoreTel 10
Now established in the SME PBX landscape in the U.S., visibility and customer education remain key hurdles for ShoreTel as it targets larger accounts, integration with third-party voice systems, and international expansion for growth. (3/15/2010)

Siemens Enterprise Communications HiPath 4000
Although HiPath 4000 is a volume product with competitive functionality it is beginning to show its age compared to newer PBXs from both rivals and Siemens Enterprise itself. However a new migration solution is on the horizon. (7/12/2010)

Siemens Enterprise Communications OpenScape Voice
OpenScape Voice is gaining traction among customers seeking a highly scalable, very secure PBX solution. Close ties to OpenScape UC – Siemens Enterprise’s unified communications solution – also help it stand out from the crowd. (3/30/2010)

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Report Contents

• Current Perspective Rating
• Product Strengths & Weaknesses
• Product Buying Criteria
• Product Metrics

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Enterprise PBX Buying Criteria

• Architecture and Protocols
  • Hardware and software components of the system, scalability, performance, and the various protocols it supports.
• Reliability and Security
  • The types of hardware and software reliability features supported by the device, as well as its management capabilities and security.
• Clients
  • Types of communication applications the system is able to offer, as well as the end stations supported.
• Pricing
  • The manufacturer's suggested pricing for the product, separate from negotiated prices. Pricing includes the number of low-end IP desk phones specified, eleven T1 trunks, the hardware and software needed to support IP telephony and offer basic PBX functionality, management software, all hardware and software licenses, and voicemail boxes and ports sufficient to support the number of users specified.
• Scalability and Performance
  • Describes system’s ability to scale up or down depending on customers’ needs, as well as the system’s ability to quickly process calls.

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Enterprise PBX Product Metrics

• Features
  • Max. No. of Stations Supported
  • Max. Number of IP Stations Supported
  • Max. Number of Digital Stations
  • Max. Number of Analog Stations Supported
  • Max No. of Softphones Supported
  • Number of Controllers that can be Internetworked
  • Number IP Trunks Supported
  • Number Digital Trunks Supported
  • Number Analog Trunks Supported
  • Maximum Number of Simultaneous Calls
  • Switch Type
  • Switch Matrix Type
  • Call Processor Operating
  • Centralized or Distributed Call Processor
  • Redundant Call Process
  • Signaling Systems Supp
  • Call Control and Messaging APIs
  • Switch Interfaces Supported
  • VoIP Protocols Supported
  • QoS Protocols Supported
  • Voice Mail Platform Support (standard/optional)
  • Number Voice Mail Boxes
  • Number Voice Mail Subscribers
  • Number Voice Mail Ports
  • Follow-me Forwarding
  • Unified Messaging Platform Support
  • E-mail Protocol Support
  • Contact Database Import
  • Automatic Call Distribution Platform Support
  • Number of Agents Supported
  • Number of Supervisors Supported
  • Number of Simultaneous Conference Calls
  • Maximum Participants per Session
  • Management Server Operating System
  • Web-based Management Console
  • Built-in/Custom Reporting
  • Real-Time Status Monitor
  • Time-of-Day Policy Management
  • Hot-pluggable Hardware
  • RAID Support
  • Automated Backup/Client Log-on
  • Call-detail Recording
  • Accounting/Billing Platform Support