{"id":737,"date":"2013-10-25T20:04:49","date_gmt":"2013-10-26T01:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danvanfleet.com\/?p=737"},"modified":"2013-10-25T20:04:49","modified_gmt":"2013-10-26T01:04:49","slug":"3cx-ip-phone-systems-is-the-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danvanfleet.com\/index.php\/3cx-ip-phone-systems-is-the-winner\/","title":{"rendered":"3CX IP Phone Systems is the winner"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Years ago I installed a number of phone systems, mostly Avaya Partner systems they were great, they had a ton of features for a reasonable cost. I’ve hung up most of my cabling tools but still play with phones from time to time. About a year ago, a client needed a new phone system, after searching high and low we decided on a windows based 3CX<\/a> system. <\/p>\n

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I installed one at my office also, so I could both provide phone system support and learn how to develop for the platform. 3CX<\/a> has an available API so we can talk nicely to the phone system. If you’re looking to update your phone system, in my opinion 3CX is the way to go. <\/p>\n

The 3CX phone system uses IP based phones, I’ve used Yealink phones and Patton networking devices with good success. For fun I tossed a cheap GrandStream device on a residential wireless phone system and have an extension I can walk with, without paying $600 for a custom wireless phone.  Our 3CX<\/a> system runs on a workstation class VPC under Hyper-V. It works great, after setting it up the main reason I look at it is to add a number to the blocked number list. <\/p>\n

One issue now days with classic phone switches or systems is their phones are limited to that particular model switch. You can’t carry your phone with you to the next system, and you surly can’t take it on the road. With IP based systems you can do both. So if in the future 3CX<\/a> isn’t tickling your fancy anymore, there’s no reason to toss your investment in phone hardware, just configure them for the new system. I don’t see that happening as these guys have built a nice system and are adding major features every release. <\/p>\n

And of course since it’s software, there are add-ons and feature packages that can be added as easy as installed a piece of software.  Need more lines just upgrade your license.  There’s even a free version for a Mom and Pop shop with 2 simultaneous calls, still with unlimited extensions.  It is sold by simultaneous calls supported, with a 16 call license at just under $1400 right now. Upgrade maintenance is a good value at what looks like 20%, kind of the standard IMHO. <\/p>\n

Here are some key features of the 3CX<\/a> IP Phone system <\/p>\n