What is the best way to roll out a VoIP enterprise system with multiple locations: corporate headquarters, satelite offices, and commuters?

Best practice seems to be - implement highly resilient core system, preferably as dual data centre model, with centrally deployed unified comms applications (and call centre apps, if appropriate). Distribute calls, apps and customer data via resilient corporate MPLS or SIP network.

Removes all location dependencies, reduces local equipment deployment requirements (network switch, phone, pc only required), and centralises management, administration and support of the system.

See http://www.datapoint.com/technologies/voice-virtualisation.aspx for more info.

Hope this helps!

Valencia,

At 1st Phone Link we would approach your Business case as follows. If each sattelite office has more than 6 People on the phones we would sell you a Business class Dedicated Internet T-1. If less than 6 you would be best off with High speed DSL or Cable Broadband. We would sell you VOIP Compatibale Handsets that will allow for 3 digit extension dial between all of your locations. Rate per minute will be extremely low when dialing outside of your organization.

Thank you,
Michael Parad
1st Phone Link Corp.
508-297-1800

From my perspective, the answer is simple...use a SaaS-based, on-demand Unified Communications solution that provides full-featured hosted PBX, ACD, mobile messaging and full mobile-integrated functionality, amongst other things.

The flexibility and zero entry cost (presuming the satellite offices have broadband connectivity), with a low cost base service that is paid for a on a per-seat, per-month basis makes it ideal for this kind of application.

In the US, I would look at companies like Panterra Networks, who not only provide all of the above, but whose user interface is both highly intuitive and doesn't even require a software download or installation (so that the full suite of services are available on any PC, at any time, simply by logging and accessing all of the features and functions).

Hope that helps!