| Your PBX system has served you well in the past | | | | B. You should review all aspects of your |
| and with a bit of upkeep and maintenance will | | | | telecommunications system from the software, |
| continue to meet your needs in the future. | | | | to the cards, to the telephone sets and catalog all |
| However change is on the horizon. | | | | concerns. |
| It's not so much that the PBX features have | | | | C. Upgrading your system outright to the latest |
| changed, it's the technology delivering those | | | | and greatest may make more sense to the |
| features and your co-workers interaction that is | | | | bottom line than continually upgrading the various |
| changing. | | | | parts of the system. |
| In the end the choice to upgrade your voice | | | | 2. Determine if new systems features will |
| communications system may not even be yours. | | | | improve your company's telecommunications |
| Many PBX manufactures are embracing Voice | | | | culture. |
| over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and the newest | | | | A. Nortel's SIP Multimedia PC Client as an example |
| technology, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as | | | | offers many features beyond traditional |
| their new flagship systems while limiting the | | | | telephony. It supports video calling, instant |
| support of their Legacy TDM (Time Division | | | | messaging, call screening, real-time call disposition, |
| Multiplex) systems. | | | | conferencing, file sharing, and white-boarding. |
| Whether you have a small system or a large | | | | B. Advanced Web communications include pushing |
| system, it's imperative as a Telecommunications | | | | Web pages and co-browsing the Web with |
| manager that you understand the latest | | | | customers, co-workers, and associates |
| technologies and begin to blueprint when a system | | | | C. Virtual Office is always an exciting feature of |
| upgrade would make sense for your company. | | | | the newer VoIP and SIP systems. |
| Many managers are put off by the fact that they | | | | 3. Company growth, downsizing or related |
| have to upgrade their telecommunication system | | | | projects. |
| - after all it's worked fine for many years. They | | | | A. Company growth is a good time to analyze |
| are even more upset when they are notified or | | | | your telecommunications systems. It might be |
| find out that the system they have is reaching or | | | | cost-effective to embrace the new system |
| is end-of-life and will no longer be supported by | | | | features and create Virtual Private Networks |
| the manufacturer. | | | | (VPNs) that in turn, reduce your requirements on |
| What's the driving factor behind these changes? | | | | T1's. |
| The short answer - Convergence. | | | | B. If your company is downsizing in property. It |
| Convergence views voice communications and | | | | might prove fruitful to allow the older systems to |
| data communications as a comparable information | | | | convey with the property, while focusing on |
| nucleus - they are doing basically the same | | | | re-growth and the newer systems. |
| function. Passing data from an originating point to | | | | C. If you company is engaged in related projects |
| an end point. Voice communications uses | | | | (Infrastructure upgrades, IT system upgrades, |
| dedicated paths to connect parties and data | | | | etc.). It is crucial that you as the |
| communications uses non-dedicated paths and | | | | Telecommunications Manager are part of the |
| protocols to send and retrieve information. | | | | process to ensure that newly installed systems |
| Is this the first convergent of seemingly different | | | | will communicate with your vision of the future |
| technologies? Not at all, the fax revolution of the | | | | for your Pbx department. |
| 80's was produced by a convergence of | | | | Of course there are other driving factors that are |
| telecommunications technology, optical scanning | | | | unique to each and every business and this article |
| technology, and printing technology. There are | | | | briefly touches on only a few factors. More |
| countless other examples of convergent | | | | important are the key factors in planning that can |
| technologies on the market today. | | | | be categorized into anticipation on your part and |
| When should you begin planning for your upgrade? | | | | the effective management of information, quality, |
| The simple answer is of course; there is no time | | | | and scope. |
| like the present. | | | | Anticipating changes in the telecommunications |
| As with any project you will need to make a | | | | sector and taking advantage of those changes to |
| presentation case for the project, outlining the | | | | benefit your company are paramount to a |
| immediate and future benefits to your company's | | | | competent, executable plan. In addition, effectively |
| business culture and the company's bottom line. I'll | | | | managing the information, ensuring quality |
| discuss three common driving factors, End-of-life | | | | research and developing a scope of action will |
| schedules, culture/business shift and company | | | | assist in the creation of a sound |
| reorganization. | | | | telecommunications project. |
| I'll use Nortel's SIP Multimedia PC Client as an | | | | Whether you're just beginning the research |
| example. | | | | process of upgrading your Pbx system or are |
| 1. Identify your current systems End-of-life | | | | well along in the process - is a great place to |
| schedule. | | | | perform research, post questions and get |
| A. Pbx systems are comprised of software and | | | | answers about a wide array of systems. |
| hardware. In some system configurations, the | | | | * - Nortel's SIP Multimedia PC Client and Nortel are |
| hardware will follow a different end-of-life schedule | | | | trademarks of Nortel Networks. |
| than the software and vice versa. | | | | |