posted 03 January 2002 07:45 PM               

For the record, our company has been using videoconferencing through a Lucent PBX for quite some time and we are very large users of the technologies. We have not experienced issues specific to the PBX. In fact, the PBX acts as it should, an NT2 device on the network. We have successfully used both the traditional BRI board approach and the DCP configuration. The only compensation required for some rooms was a 100 Ohm resistor because of the distance to the PBX across a large campus. In those cases, we either made a resistor, or used an NT1 to act as a resistor, which works as well.

Again, I would be interested in some specifics to backup the assertion.

Regards,

posted 04 January 2002 07:50 AM               

Seymour

Joseph A. O’Donnell:

Thanks for the feedback.

We also had a Lucent PBX and where one of the first users of the Definity with MMX services. These included transfer and the ability to conference in other participants as well as voice mail. None of these features worked reliably or coherently. For example, if I wanted my PC to do the dialing (and who wants to enter two different NI-1 numbers every time you dial) I could do it but was GURANTEED BY SPECIFCATION to loose lip sync!

The worst aspect was call reliability. Even if I didn't use those features my call reliability was noticeably degraded.

We had similar issues with customer installations in the US as well as abroad. In general we found over time that calls through PBXs were less reliable than calls through ISDN connected to the local POP.

I certainly believe you when you say you have it working. You can make it work but our experience was it was tougher and worse. Adding "fabric" (more bandwidth capabilities at the PBX)as the PBX guys are fond of saying isn't cheap. If you want a 384K connection, it gets expensive. Thats why I believe for installations above three units or so, within a premise IP is the only way to go.

At large installations, like Otis, you have better support and your PBX manufacturer will answer the phone more readily than if your were "Sam's Screen Doors and Siding."

IP is a natural for VC. Within our building, IP was better than the phone, outside our building it was the other way around. That is changing.

Thanks,

posted 04 January 2002 03:04 PM               

Thanks for the quick response.

If it were your general contention that a PBX is more of a hassle with regards to videoconferencing, I would sure agree (not that LEC BRI isn’t a pain).

In fact, implementing the DCP version of the Polycom was frankly a huge pain in the ...

Lucent, now Avaya, would not help us with the port programming without threatening a ridiculous charge. We figured out the programming with help from Polycom who sent us the screen shots of the necessary configurations. No one could have guessed them.

Also, you are right that a company like Otis has available expertise both internally and externally. Between our PBX administrator and myself we have managed to figure out just about anything. But I suppose your point is, look at how it takes the likes of us to make the damn things work. It should not, but still does.

Finally, yes I prefer IP where practical. It sure can be of better quality and cheaper, and in some cases the analysis bears this out. However, for both Otis and out sister divisions it has not been a practical alternative, specifically regarding bridged calls. In fact, it was far more expensive. I will speak about this in greater detail at the Wainhouse Research Summit.

Cheers,

posted 04 January 2002 06:34 PM               

A very open response, thanks. Sounds like we are in agreement on many points. I am completely unsurprised by the treatment you got from Avaya for what should have been a simple install. You can imagine what its like without "Otis" size clout.

If you don't mind, please send me your email address, I'd like to get in contact with you directly to learn more about your experiences. My email address is: sfriedel@mediaone.net

My company is working on some interesting IP initiatives and your input would be of value.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and have a pleasant weekend.

Regards,

Seymour