Just like anything else in IT... the answer is "it depends". You can have a basic system, a system with some options and a "decked out" system. The minimum components you will need are: Phones - $150 and up Cabling - CAT5e or above - how much per drop? Layer3 Switches (Power Over Ethernet - POE - preferred) - have to also provide Quality & Class of Service (QOS, COS) - $3000 Gateway between data network and PSTN - varies, low end maybe $4500 Callmanager - can be integrated into gateway; this is the "smarts" of the VOIP system - varies from free open source (Asterisk) to high end systems like Cisco which could run $15,000 Voicemail ? Software licenses if not using open source options like Asterisk - say $100/phone PSTN connection(s) - copper trunks, PRI, ISDN, etc - depends on your local telco WAN costs for site to site VOIP - may have to add capacity and/or QOS/COS to this link - depends on your provider So, you can assign a quantity and price to each of these elements that will get you your estimated costs for the boss. ------------- Call charges . Internal saving Mobile or Cell ? ( GSM gateways) or the like Line rental saving if using VOIP lines Versa capital expense of putting PBX in + Extra functionality Will lead to a bus case of do it or forget it If you need further info drop me a line . Cheers Daryl

Just like anything else in IT... the answer is "it depends". You can have a basic system, a system with some options and a "decked out" system. The minimum components you will need are: Phones - $150 and up Cabling - CAT5e or above - how much per drop? Layer3 Switches (Power Over Ethernet - POE - preferred) - have to also provide Quality & Class of Service (QOS, COS) - $3000 Gateway between data network and PSTN - varies, low end maybe $4500 Callmanager - can be integrated into gateway; this is the "smarts" of the VOIP system - varies from free open source (Asterisk) to high end systems like Cisco which could run $15,000 Voicemail ? Software licenses if not using open source options like Asterisk - say $100/phone PSTN connection(s) - copper trunks, PRI, ISDN, etc - depends on your local telco WAN costs for site to site VOIP - may have to add capacity and/or QOS/COS to this link - depends on your provider So, you can assign a quantity and price to each of these elements that will get you your estimated costs for the boss. ------------- Call charges . Internal saving Mobile or Cell ? ( GSM gateways) or the like Line rental saving if using VOIP lines Versa capital expense of putting PBX in + Extra functionality Will lead to a bus case of do it or forget it If you need further info drop me a line . Cheers Daryl