I need to change phones/systems. IMO it seems to come down to two paths:
1. VOIP. Newest, latest greatest. What I have now, but the phones aren't adequate.
Benefit is that it has lots of calling features and they will expand b/c they are just software. For example, you can text to my current service, including images. I'm getting more and more texts out of the blue to the office number, even though most don't have that feature, even VOIP.
Big problem: These systems are designed so each phone is its own "line". I have basically a warehouse/retail situation so I need all the phones to ring when the call comes in, the nearest person who can get it gets it. Old fashioned basic phone need. I have to get this feature.
Smaller problem: calls break up, not as reliable quality. I can up my bandwidth, that MAY fix it, but not sure.
My current provider has a solution to the 'big problem' but you can only use certain phones, they have to be set up a certain way, etc. If you do it then things like basic intercom become more complex as well. Basically that part of these systems seem over-engineered.
2. POTS - plain old telephone service. I can get this through cable company, go buy a used pile of basic office phones. I had a RCA executive series years ago, they all find each other automatically, all the phones ring when the call comes in. The cable service does basic call hunting etc. so you get call rollover to line 2 and 3 without a PBX or Key system.
Benefit is it's simple, and all the phones ring when the call comes in. I can get a pile of phones for $200 or so, easy wiring job, done.
PRoblem: features are fewer and are harder to get. Mostly no texting, which seems to be the wave of the future even for business systems.
So anyone have a system they like? VOIP or POTS? I can't find much good info on POTS type systems. I used the RCA one, it was fine, would just buy that I guess for lack of knowing a better one.
One other detail, somewhat separate, is finding handsets if possible. the old RCA system has some options, the VOIP options for these Polycoms seem more limited. We walk around a lot, handsets would be good.
Hope someone has a solution. I need to wrap this up one way or the other, but really I'm not in love with either solution.
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