February 1999

Voice/Data Switches:
A Look At 14 LAN-Based Corporate Phone Systems

BY EVAN KOBLENTZ

Although they have only been around for a few years, PC-PBXs are already old news. Any computer can be a PC-PBX, comm server, un-PBX, or whatever you like to call a computerized telephone system. Today's question is: Why just voice?

Late-model PC-PBXs do much more than just switch telephone calls. Some were designed from the start to be true voice/data switches, where the IP factor encompasses the entire product - Selsius's solution is a good example. Other solutions, like AltiGen's, started out as basic PC-PBXs but evolved. All share some common traits, like being a part of the LAN - perhaps even being its central hub - rather than just being linked to the LAN. Running one piece of software, a single server or server series can be your PBX, ACD, auto-attendant/IVR, unified messaging suite, IP telephony gateway, remote access link, and browser-based administrator. Anyone born in the early 21st century will surely laugh at the notion of a non-networked PBX. A telephone (or any communications client of tomorrow) that needs resources other than an IP address and some disk space for CTI applications will be considered bulky and obsolete. As a whole, the new breed of evolved PBXs are known as voice/data switches.

There are numerous vendors whose names you are probably already familiar with who are making a voice/data switch, and more are announcing or developing one everyday. The following alphabetical listing of companies producing voice/data switches provides contact information and a brief description of each product, along with information provided by each company that responded to our questions: What makes your solution distinctive, and what does it cost? Not every company sent pricing data, but those that did said that this information reflects "average," mid-range systems.

AltiGen Communications, Inc./AltiServ
510-252-9712
www.altigen.com

What we like about it: AltiGen has a strong history in the PC-PBX market, which gives them an edge. By adding IP features, they've made AltiServ much more powerful than it was previously, with an open interface edition, one number access, unlimited virtual extensions, and a "boomerang" feature for automatically dialing whoever sent an active message.

What the manufacturer says: AltiGen manufacturers Windows NT-based telecom servers for small to mid-sized businesses. The AltiServ system delivers full PBX functionality plus ACD, auto-attendant, e-mail, voice mail, and Voice over IP. AltiGen recently announced their integrated VoIP Gateway tie-line capability, and the Internet is also used to deliver features such as one number access and Web-based call management services to end users.

Cell-It, Inc./CCPRO
305-639-2259
www.cellit.com

What we like about it: Cell-It's narrowband and broadband solutions are a better fit for the call center market, offering features like call recording, blended ACD/predictive dialing, and object scripting rules. But there's also ATM support and the capability for services like interactive video, IP telephony, advanced wireless services, broadband carrier services, and virtual call centers.

What the manufacturer says: CCPRO is unique because of its ATM broadband trunking support, delivering linear growth and redundancy, scalability (eight agents to thousands), multiple NT switch/multiple site, and at home agent support, along with its ratio of digital signal processing resources to network interfaces. CCPRO is available from $3,000-$5,000 per seat.

Lucent Technologies, Inc./IP Exchange Systems
800-325-7466 ext. 451
www.lucent.com

What we like about it: Our favorite thing about IPES is who makes it: companies the size of Lucent don't enter a field if they're not confident about its growth prospects. The ExchangeComm and ExchangeLink systems offer features like telephone access to message management, open APIs, tremendous scalability, and backward compatibility with other Lucent products.

What the manufacturer says: Key differences between IPES and competing products are scalability and open architecture. IPES is based on a distributed software platform developed by Bell Labs called Mantra. This creates a bridge between different signaling systems and protocols, enabling telephony, data, and fax devices from different vendors to connect seamlessly over a TCP/IP network. Costs are $600-$900 per port.

Merlot Communications, Inc./ComCenter
203-730-1791
www.merlot.net

What we like about it: Merlot calls them "second generation integrated access devices," but the ComCenter, largely supported by Merlot's own ASIC technology, offers the option to add many types of WAN cards, like ISDN, T1/E1, frame relay, and xDSL, as well as analog, cable, and CO modems. Merlot boasts of the ComCenter's ATM-quality voice.

What the manufacturer says: Combined central backplane switching capacity of 14.4 Gbps…. Elegant, on-the-fly provisioning for Constant Bit Rate (CBR) services, i.e., voice or video, from the IAD to the desktop.… QoS protocol hand-off at the network edge to ATM, IP, or frame relay.

Mitel Corp./NeVaDa
800-SXMITEL
www.mitel.com

What we like about it: The NeVaDa ("NEtworked Voice And DAta") switch supports many types of LAN connectivity including Ethernet, fast Ethernet, Token ring, FDDI, ATM, and gigabit Ethernet. NeVaDa has a wide range of fault-tolerant features, traffic prioritization, password and firewall protection, and integration with Hewlett Packard's OpenView network management system.

What the manufacturer says: A key component of the product is an ATM module, which provides the capacity to carry multiple media traffic throughout the enterprise over a single 155 Mbps fiber backbone. The hub's protocol-independent, non-blocking bus supports high-speed networks and is optimized for speed and flexibility. NeVaDa provides modular, cost-effective bandwidth management without sacrificing investments in legacy PBX switches, networking, and desktop equipment. Pricing: $16,000 U.S. per OC3 backbone connection.

NBX Corp./NBX 100
888-NBX-0070
www.nbxcorp.com

What we like about it: The NBX 100 Communications System is a black box voice/data switch that runs even when the network doesn't. The system is compatible with Outlook and many popular PIMs, and it works on any network, not just Microsoft networks. There is also NBX's own "APX" messaging system, plus the NetSet administration utility.

What the manufacturer says: The IP-based communications system utilizes open, standards-based networking architecture to dramatically reduce cost of owning/operating a powerful, interoperable multi-site communications network. The NBX 100 also includes TAPI drivers and caller ID support, and requires no dedicated PC or NOS. Systems scale from 2 to more than 100 users, from one to many locations. Price: about $8,600/system or $535 per user.

Netphone, Inc./IPBX
508-787-1000
www.netphone.com

What we like about it: What distinguishes the IPBX is that users can still take and place telephone calls when the LAN is down. Combined with 96-port support, G.165 echo cancellation, H.323 compatibility, G.711 and G. 723 voice compression, this system is an exemplar of novel switching technologies.

What the manufacturer says: NetPhone offers total PBX functionality including desktop call control, server-based automatic call distribution, security, accounting, and least-cost routing. NetPhone offers intelligent PSTN fallback that routes all calls back to the PSTN during an intranet failure.

Praxon, Inc./PDX
408-871-1600
www.praxon.com

What we like about it: Praxon's Phone Data eXchange (PDX) offers a little of everything, with features like an auto-attendant, voice-mail, e-mail, remote access to the office, peripheral sharing, document sharing, and Internet connectivity. PDX also has standard install wizards, which still elude many of voice/data switches that come from companies more familiar with CLI configurations and jumper switches. The PDX is a good example of tomorrow's true all-in-one box.

What the manufacturer says: Customers get a fully featured PBX, a 10Base-T network, a voice mail server, an e-mail server, and secure Internet access for $300 to $425 per seat. Praxon also acknowledges that its targeted market often faces tight budgets and limited in-house technical expertise, and has designed GUIs, wizards, and similar features geared toward making customers' lives easier.

SALIX Technologies, Inc./ETX5000
301-417-0017
www.salix.com

What we like about it: SALIX advertises the ETX5000 as the first "carrier class" voice/data switch, carrying both TDM and VoIP, along with support for several compressions, 48 T3 ports or 16 100base-T ports and multiple device protocols. There is Telnet and FTP management, hot-swappable server components, and even SONET support; however, all this additional functionality is not without its cost. With pricing that starts at $100,000, the cost of industrializing this switch may be too much for some smaller organizations to handle.

What the manufacturer says: Most switches employ a single matrix or bus architecture, corresponding to the type of information they switch: TDM, packet, etc. Where multiple information formats are required (e.g., TDM and VoIP), these products require a bus for each format. This multiplies complexity, cost, and potential reliability problems. The ETX5000's innovative Unified Switch Fabric performs multi-format switching for packets/frames, cells, and TDM traffic. Operation is synchronized using a Stratum 3 clock. Each physical interface port is provided with a full 622 Mbps of full-duplex, non-blocking bandwidth. Total bandwidth depends on the ETX model; ranges from 8 to 40 Gbps are currently planned. Price: $200-$300 per port, VoIP included, and the ETX5000 supports 500-600 users.

Selsius Systems, Inc./IP-PBX
800-946-2483
www.selsius.com

What we like about it: Selsius's IP-PBX (Selsius is now owned by Cisco Systems) was among the first voice/data switches on the market. Its main components are Phone (actual LAN phones with IP addresses), CallManager (performs the software-based PBX duties), and Access (the VoIP gateway). The Selsius system also offers Web-based management, H.323 compliance, a unified messaging interface, and a variety of IP telephones.

What the manufacturer says: Selsius is distinctive because of its design approach - IP phones, call management software, gateways, and applications are not standalone devices with no knowledge of system resource availability. The practical advantages of this design are a unified dial plan across the system, scalability to thousands of users, redundancy of any of these components, and the ability to distribute the components across a worldwide IP network. The total cost of ownership of the telephony network is reduced through reduced costs of moves/adds/changes, consolidation of network infrastructure, and integration of data/telecom administrative staffs.

Shoreline Teleworks, Inc./CrystaLAN
650-937-1300
www.shoretel.com

What we like about it: Shoreline's CrystaLAN system has four parts - Server, Desktop, IPBX, and Voice Services. Some of its key features are TAPI compliance, browser-based administration, and a Java-based client package. CrystaLAN also boasts desktop call control, 12-port modular IPBX units, voice mail software, and a powerful auto-attendant option.

What the manufacturer says: CrystaLAN is a unique IP-based architecture that incorporates a stackable IPBX voice switch to provide PBX-grade reliability and non-disruptive, plug-and-play expansion. Its multi-tier failover design lets users continue to make and take telephone calls if the PCs, servers, or even the data network is down. The system requires no PC or server expansion cards and supports standard 2500 series telephones. Mid-size system: $593 per port.

TouchWave, Inc./WebSwitch 2000
650-843-1850
www.touchwave.com

What we like about it: The WebSwitch 2000 is TouchWave's modular voice/data switch, featuring a simple Windows GUI, full TUI control, and 32-port expansion segments. WebSwitch works well in telecommuting, branch office, and multi-building campus environments, using TouchWave's PhoneLink client and SwitchLink administration software. The VoIP module features G.723 and G.729 compressions and 4-port board increments.

What the manufacturer says: This highly integrated solution is so easy to install and manage that the administrator's guide is only 1/8" thick. The WebSwitch is totally self-contained and has an embedded real-time operating system to ensure the highest levels of simplicity and reliability. Through its modular architecture, the new WebSwitch 2000 can be configured for optimum price performance across a broad range of applications. It supports standard analog and H.323 phones alike.

Vertical Networks, Inc./Instant Office
877-837-8422 ext. 133
www.verticalnetworks.com

What we like about it: Like most voice/data switches, InstantOffice is ideal for organizations seeking a telecommunications solution in 100-user increments. InstantOffice has features like digital trunk line integration, RAID, least-cost routing, customizable management levels, and built-in RAS and CSU/DSU.

What the manufacturer says: Vertical Networks provides complete communications to offices with fewer than 100 employees. Designed for ease of use and management, the modular InstantOffice solution eliminates communications complexity, provides a migration path to new applications and services, and lowers lifetime ownership costs. Businesses choose and pay only for the functionality they need. The system can be managed remotely and supports SNMP. Price: about $250 per user for a base system, $475 per user for a fully featured system.

Vina Technologies/T1 Integrator & Business OfficeXchange
888-774-VINA
www.vina-tech.com

What we like about it: The T1 Integrator/BOX is essentially a miniature CO, including features like LCR, DHCP, and a packet-filtering firewall. Vina's solution is expensive - it is also more inclusive and commercial-grade than some of its competitors.

What the manufacturer says: The T1 Integrator/BOX costs roughly half as much as the individual products it contains. It integrates the functionality of a 24-port channel bank, IP gateway, multiplexer, data access device via frame relay/PPP/HDLC, T1 DSU/CSU, firewall, DHCP for Internet addressing, and remote management via HTTP and SNMP. Costs $3,500 to $7,500.

Evan Koblentz is a technology editor for TMC Labs. He can be reached at ekoblentz@tmcnet.com.