Cheap (sub £500) analog / IP telelphone system?

[Diakatarnis]

Ok i have a client whos just moving into a new office, they have 2 phone lines coming in and would like 6 phones to connect to a phone system to use these lines.

Any suggestions / prefrences on a cheap system?

I was looking at some of the linksys ones that will allow 4 lines in and then convert them to IP calls, but the one i was looking at was only a 4 user and there are 6 of them atm.

Many thanks :D

[KingDaveRa]

Asterisk perhaps? You can get analogue cards (FXO cards) to sit on the end of the analogue lines, and enter calls into the system; if it's coming via ISDN (2-channels) then you can interface that directly to a PRI card.

Get some cheap SIP phones; I reckon you could do it for not-much-cash.

[Boffykins]

Look into working with a company like VoxHub (http://www.voxhub.com/). They manage everything and can supply phones / converters too. They have some great features on their systems, and have excellent support. We use them here at Multiplay, and I used them as well at my previous company. Top marks.

[Breath]

If your looking at IP systems then Trixbox would be a good starting point. Its a simple put cd into machine and install solution. If you like to get your hands dirty then Asterisk with Freepbx is a good option.

Get a digium card as well (TDM400p's are cheap enough on Ebay) and put both lines into it for backup. If you don't know already having both VoIP and analogue lines on a system gives your client a discount on their insurance as its a 'belt and braces' solution.

Lines wise make sure you have a dedicated broadband connection for VoIP. Don't faff around with sharing access with data its just not worth the hassle. Look at a company like AQL (http://www.aql.com) who will do an IAX2 trunk directly into your system so saving having to mess about with SIP.

Get BT to put an administrative divert on the analogue lines so that all calls are forced onto a voip connection. If the **** does hit the fan you can remove the diverts and take calls on the analogue lines.

If you want something non VoIP I can sort you out with a nice little Panasonic or NEC system (we supply and install the things) or if your looking at ISDN an Argent Office is an option too.

[Breath]

Oh and don't skimp on the phones. Cheap ones really are crap (i've tested more handsets than you can imagine in the last 4 years). Polycom, Linksys or Cisco... nuff said :P

[KingDaveRa]

The Cisco ones are wubly :D