Included with IP Office R4.0 Standard Edition, the IP Office 500 system supports up to 32 telephones, with capacity for 16 analog trunks or 4 digital trunks (96 T1/PRI or 120 E1). Optionally, SIP trunks are also supported. With Professional Edition software, the IP Office 500 system supports 8 expansion modules providing for a combination of 270 analog, digital, and IP extensions. Additional analog trunks can be provisioned using the IP400 Analog Trunk 16 module.

The Avaya IP Office system includes a robust set of tools for administration (Manager), call tracking (SMDR), system monitoring and diagnostics (System Status Application), to name a few. Additionally, the ability for users to manage their own calls is supplied through a simple GUI (Phone Manager). Phone Manager functionality can also be enhanced through simple licensing and to support IP softphones.

Additional applications, such as synchronizing voice mail messages in Microsoft Exchange e-mail InBox for easy message management; scheduling conferences, uploading documents for real-time viewing, and managing audio privileges for conference calls; and agent reporting and PC wall boards for call center environments can be added when needed. The Auto Attendant application enables callers to route their own calls to the relevant department/person without the need to speak to an operator/receptionist. Receptionists/operators can take advantage of the Soft Console GUI application to present a professional view of the business to all callers. TAPI (Telephone Applications Programming Interface) support enables IP Office to be linked to Microsoft Outlook and other popular desktop applications for screen pops and PC-based telephony management.

Investment protection is offered through handsets supported by several Avaya platforms, and provides a migration path that is forward and backwards compatible. IP Office supports IP and digital telephone operation, with large display desktop phones with sophisticated screen-driven feature access. Single button on/off control and menu driven displays are available for selected features for ease of use.

Avaya Phone Conferencing

Avaya IP Office conferencing applications provide a private audio-conference bridge for communicating with a large number of people. The IP Office conferencing capability supports up to two conferences with as many as 64 participants on a single conference call (or combination thereof). Multiple conferences can take place simultaneously.

With the Meet-me Conferencing Bridge a PIN number can be added for more secure conferences, requiring participants to input a code before entering the call. The Conferencing Center application adds management through the Scheduler component and audio control for the host through the Web Client component. The Scheduler interface enables conferences to be established, e-mail invitations to be sent, or set up ad hoc. The Web Client enables the host to upload and publish documents and presentations for real-time viewing. The Web Client interface allows the Host to manage the audio portion by controlling who has Speak and Listen privileges or who has Listen only capabilities. It is through the Client interface that the Host can Whisper to a specific individual without disruption to the conference call. Participants can also send messages using the web chat functionality privately to the Host or to all participants.

Employees can cost effectively conduct meetings over the phone and spontaneously collaborate, share information and make decisions creating more effective work practices leading to shorter project times and increased employee productivity. The Meet-me Conference Bridge can lower conferencing costs by reducing the need for third-party conferencing service providers. ROI on IP Office conferencing solutions can be as short as 9-10 weeks, depending on location and provider fees.

Avaya VoiceMail Messaging

IP Office offers several messaging applications designed to meet the needs of the business. IP Office VoiceMail Lite, Embedded Voicemail and VoiceMail Pro is available supporting features such as automated attendant, voicemail, unified messaging, e-mail reading, fax routing, Integrated Voice Response (IVR), text-to-speech (TTS), centralized voicemail, and networked messaging. Voicemail provides a telephone answering machine with a personalized greeting on every employee’s desk and allows callers to leave spoken messages when the user cannot answer a telephone call. Voicemail messages are retrieved either locally or remotely via any telephone (users are prompted for a PIN if they are using any telephone other than their allocated extension or a trusted location e.g. mobile telephone). For users that prefer to have email as their main message store, they can forward their voice messages to their email and collect them via their email account.

Messaging applications are vital for businesses that want to ensure that every call is answered, even after hours or when everyone is busy, and that messages are properly and efficiently managed. Employees stay connected to the business at all times from any location, helping customers reach the right person, extension or department, which can lead to improved customer satisfaction. Employee efficiency and productivity are maximized as calls are appropriately routed and quickly handled during peak call periods.

Small Community Networking links multiple IP Office systems via a standard data network, providing feature transparency and advanced applications such as centralized voice messaging.

Businesses can extend communications capabilities — including applications such as messaging — to remote locations, unify voice communications across multiple sites, or connect branch sites. Networking can cost-effectively enhance the value of existing data network by improving operations, inter-company communications and processes while controlling communications and system management costs.

Phone Manager is a desktop communications application that is available in three versions: Phone Manager Lite, Phone Manager Pro, and Phone Manager Pro PC Softphone (VoIP mode).

The Phone Manager application offers control of the user’s telephone from their PC. Phone Manager Lite and Phone Manager Pro are for the user who prefers to access telephony features (making/receiving call, setting up conference calls, speed dials, etc.) through the PC. Phone Manager Pro PC Softphone is for anyone who has a laptop and high-speed internet access while traveling or working away from their desk or office.

The Phone Manager Pro PC Softphone adds PC-based telephony via a sound card or USB headset/handset to the product.

Simplifies communications via point-and-click access to commonly used features. The Phone Manager application includes many productivity enhancing capabilities such as a Busy Lamp Field (BLF) and Speed Dials.

This allows users to customize the application to reflect the status of their department, immediate colleagues or the whole company as desired. User friendly icons allows regularly called internal and external (work, mobile/cell, home) numbers to be dialed via a single-click. The Busy Lamp Field feature allows you to see at a glance who is available to take a call, who is already on a call, who has forwarded their phone, and who has placed their phone on Do Not Disturb.

The Phone Manager application also provides the user with a call history log of calls made, received, and missed which keeps a record of call duration, including time the caller may have been placed on hold, for accurate billing and reconciliation. Phone Manager PC Softphone supports mobile, traveling workers enabling lower long-distance costs. Makes staying in touch with co-workers and customers easier while traveling.

SoftConsole is the PC based Windows Operator Console for IP Office working with a desktop telephone. Commands and actions are available through menus. Some features can only be used when the right conditions; otherwise, the feature will be “grayed out” until conditions change that allow the feature to be used.

Call details include: Calling Name and Number, Called Name and Number, Call Status, Call Duration, and Notes. Areas within the application include: Directory entries, configuration of Script based on Caller ID, Conference Room, Queue and Busy Lamp Field Panel, Held and Parked Calls, Park Slots, and Call History.

SoftConsole has been designed to improve operator service by providing the operator with call information and available call actions to simplify call handling and give the appropriate response to the caller.

With this easy to use software tool the operator can maintain visibility of the number and type of calls waiting and so ensure that clients are greeted in a professional manner.

SoftConsole has many configurable options available to the operator to personalize the look and feel. The Operator can tailor the usability specifically to each their personal preferences.

CTI allows users to access information in company databases during phone calls. A services representative can automatically receive detailed customer information in a screen-pop on their PC when a customer calls. Employees can also control their phone via a familiar, easy to use GUI. CTI is based on the Telephone Applications Programming Interface standard, which supports Microsoft Windows applications such as Microsoft Outlook.

Through CTI, IP Office can improve employee efficiency and productivity by combining telephone and PC capabilities behind one easy to use GUI. It can enhance customer contacts by providing employees with access to important information.

Avaya IP Office Manager System Administration Tool IP Office Manager is the systems administration tool. Using a Windows Graphical User Interface, Manager provides an intuitive interface for installation, configuration and subsequent moves, additions, and changes. As with all IP Office applications, the Manager is multi-lingual and, coupled with the ability to use the application both locally and remotely, it is possible for an administrator to manage any of their IP Offices from any country using their local language preference. Access to each IP Office is protected by passwords and definable user rights. This allows Manager to operate according to the individual administrators level of expertise. The Manager provides remote management facilities and off-line configuration.

By monitoring activity across all locations, businesses can control costs, increase efficiencies and drive improved system performance.

Avaya Remote Hot Desking The ability for a user on one IP Office system to log into any telephone (analog, digital, or IP) on another IP Office system within the Small Community Network.

A user can make and receive calls from any IP Office location as if using their phone at their primary IP Office site. Remote hot desking offers callers and other associates single number access to reach an employee, improves mobility for the employee, and controls costs since privileges and calling restrictions still apply.

Avaya SIP Trunks Session Initiation Protocol trunks.

SIP allows IP Office users to take advantage of new telephony services being offered by Internet Telephony Service Providers. These telephony services can offer substantial savings in comparison to traditional trunks (analog and digital). With IP Office, users, regardless of their phone type, can make and receive calls on SIP trunks. SIP trunks are handled like any other trunk on the IP Office affording the call routing and control needed to manage inbound and outbound calls.

Source: http://www.fixtel.com.au/blogs/2011/04/05/fixtel-product-review-avaya-ip-office-500-phone-system-for-medium-business-enterprise/

 

Along with its Avaya Office IP solution, Avaya offers IP telephones. These are suited for the Office IP solution and have all the features that users of Avaya’s traditional business phones expect. As these phones have almost the same features as traditional phones, users need not be re-trained to operate them. This leads to a tremendous savings in both cost and time. All the phones can be used intuitively, as the features are quite easy to understand and operate. All your employees from your receptionist to your mobile knowledge worker will find that these phones enhance their productivity.

Avaya offers three series of IP phones – the 4620, the 5600, and the 9600. Each series has a number of models under them with slightly varying features. All these phones have a few features in common – they are stylish and easy to operate. They support a range of functions that have now become common in most enterprises. What follows is a brief discussion of the features of each series.

4620 series

These phones have advanced calling features as well as stylish look. The streamlined design is very attractive. Besides, they incorporate a built-in headset jack, a message waiting indicator, easily readable displays, hearing aid compatibility, NetMeeting compatibility, multiple programmable feature keys, and display navigation keys. These make them very productive tools in an office environment. They also have paperless button labels, fixed keys for transfer, hold, mute, drop, redial, conference, volume, and headset. It has a large grayscale display.

Moreover, it has an infrared port, call log application, special speed dial application, web browser, multiple power options, and personalized ring patterns. As everyone is aware all these functions help the enterprise using these phones to compete better in today’s highly competitive business environment. Additionally, it delivers all the features of the Avaya Communications Manager directly to the desktop. You have a choice of wall mount and desk top models to choose from.

As these phones have an integrated VPN client installed in them, they can be used by tele-workers, home agents, and workers in disaster recovery sites.

These phones also have built-in adapters for upgrades. So, by choosing these phones you are planning for the long term as well. It has a large capacity LAN for data transfer as well.

5600 series

This series of Avaya IP phones have a lot of software features and high audio quality. Some versions are enabled to support browser based desktop applications such as online order entry and inventory lookup apart from directory based dialing and call logging. Some of these phones, such as the 5610 and 5621, support VPN software, doing away with the need for a VPN device at the remote location.

This series is more secure than the 4620 series as it has sophisticated encryption and protection from denial of service attacks. This series has a user-friendly interface making it very easy to use. These phones can easily be upgraded by downloading the appropriate software. They have a simplified wiring system and software provisioning. They have a dynamic IP address assignment ability. It comes with a noise cancelling microphone for busy offices.

These phones are priced lower than the 4620 series as they do not have the facility to upgrade to make them compatible with the Communication Manager. If your enterprise does not require to move to the Communication Manager in the short to med term, then you can safely opt for this phone. Otherwise choose the 4620 series over this series.

9600 series

This series comprises of powerful deskphones that are full featured. They offer customizability and performance. Moreover, one has increased call control and call management capabilities with these phones. They enhance worker productivity and satisfaction by their ease of use.

Some of these phones have mobility applications and are designed for use by those, who rely heavily on their phones to meet their work targets. Other phones are meant for those such as receptionists who manage a high volume of calls. They also have basic models for those who receive only a few calls a day. By choosing the right phone model for each worker, you will be able to save substantially on costs while still ensuring that all the telephone needs of your employees are met.

Conclusion

While the 5600 series is less expensive, it does come with the caveat that it cannot be upgraded to support the Communication Manager. As most business eventually move toward using the Communication Manager, opt for the lower cost series only if you are very sure that you will not need the Communication Manager in the short to mid term. However, the 5600 series is more secure, so if security of communication is very important to your business, then you need to opt for phones from this series. If you need phones that can be customized, then opt for the 9600 series of phones by Avaya. Source