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Thread ID: 33410	2003-05-15 09:38:00	OT :phone system	beetle (243)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
144433	2003-05-15 09:38:00	hi their everyone, our business has just received a quote for a new phone system and my mind bogglesat the though and price . $$$$ and thats a cheap one! 4 phone linew and one is a fax incoming and 6- 10 ? lines out? could be wrong on that . . . . . but what im asking is we have a pentium (dunno) 16 MB? or 32 MB? with win 95 on it to run some of the ins and outs (bookings ) and such . i was good at jamming this machine regularly thats why we upgraded . we will have to install a new program for this, called calsita hospitality retailing at $1600 . 00 and what i want to know is would this run on my old puter? they also recomended a UPS to be installed . are these things nessasary? this is continuos power? and some how this is all tied up with the phone system . . . . . i am totally lost with this information would this work ok on an old puter or if spending dollars get a new puter? cos they aint having this one! so what i am asking is old puter ok or not? and why have analogue and digital things on same system? and what is KSU? personally i think they nutted in the head to spend that much, just for phones and a fax, and a program . . . . . . . but i only work here!!! and help manage the place!!!! dont speak unless spoken to like! LOL :D oooh i in trouble now . . . . . LOL beetle	beetle (243)
144434	2003-05-15 10:17:00	The phone lines will not run through the computer, in my experience of such things you will have a serial link from the (new?) mini PABX to the PC. That enables computerised logging of the phone calls for immediate charging purposes. (I seem to recall the business was a Motel?) The need for a UPS will be based on the need to log calls even when power is off, as the PABX (mini telephone switch system) will have a battery backup, or depend on the UPS as well. The software for this is expensive, as it interfaces with proprietary hardware, and is not usually "open source". Low numbers of installations = higher cost per installation. It will likely be updated regularly with ISD codes and pricing, to provide instant costs to charge to guests. Also solely based on my experience the software probably will run on the older machine. Its quite likely using a DOS based interface, and may have difficulty using XP, these software packages are usually sold over a long period without major changes, so are usually happier on old systems. I know of a Point Of Sale system, very popular but will not run on XP, (no DOS) so businesses need to keep one old dunger PC for the task. Of course it might also be all the latest, and need XP? You need to ask. E&OE (errors and omissions excepted)	godfather (25)
144435	2003-05-15 10:28:00	Agree with Godfather. Although it is starting to enter Win2K arena now. The latest from Philips is anyway, with XP due later this year. KSU = Key Switching Unit which is the PABX box itself.	Pheonix (280)
144436	2003-05-15 11:33:00	oh dear ...... thanks for that information. and i was hoping youd say id need a new machine ...drat. ill have another read of godfathers info when not quite so tired, but if PF1 people know about these things cant be all bad then HUH? any other thoughts? and yes i think youre on the write track about phone calls /cost going through the puter. and bookings but not actuall calls....just for charging per room use. so pleased that this is getting more understandable from your help.. keep up the good work PF1 people. oh and PABX box is ? is a wot? phone junction box thingie? beetle	beetle (243)
144437	2003-05-15 11:39:00	The PABX box is an automatic switching unit that connects a guest room phone with an outgoing line. You will have (10?) guest phones and (4?) incoming/outgoing lines. Otherwise you would need an outgoing line ($$) for each room phone. The PABX/KSU works on the principle that not all room phones need outside line access at once, so saves money on line rentals by making them share the lines available. If they all want access at once, only the first few will make it, the others will receive a "busy" type signal.	godfather (25)
144438	2003-05-15 11:43:00	Pretty sure calista is a windows-based program - used to be called Front Office (?). One of the more popular call accounting programs around, and $1650 is a good price but check out the maintenance contract that includes (as GF pointed out) updates.	falvrez (390)
144439	2003-05-15 11:47:00	er i think i mighta got the line thing wrong... just did a bit more reading in qoute and it says 4 x analogue incoming line ports 6x digital extension ports 16x analogue extension ports so this means how many lines? 26 ? god ill never be able to answer more than one anyway why the hell i need that many is beyond me... thanxs Godfather just need to open eyes a bit more.... (me i mean) beetle	beetle (243)
144440	2003-05-15 11:49:00	No that's not 26 incoming lines - it's 4. The rest of the "lines" are the telephone extensions attached for the rooms, reception etc...	falvrez (390)
144441	2003-05-15 11:50:00	so ya mean it may not be a one off price? ongoing support like and updates available ? off the net? where else? im ready to be an ostrich any time soon then i wont see or hear anything about this or puters again! thanxs beetle	beetle (243)
144442	2003-05-15 11:53:00	Also that's four incoming lines max - that's what the phone system you are being quoted will handle. The updates for Calista are for things like number/pricing changes. Eg when they added 029 as a mobile number; if your Calista wasn't updated then any calls to 029 would go uncharged as it would not know what that number was. Hope this helps, and chill out...	falvrez (390)
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