By Sharla Sikes

It’s no news flash that many small and medium sized businesses are looking to VoIP for their communications needs, both to lower costs and to combine features into an all-inclusive communications package.

In a recent test, ChannelWeb took a look at some of the most important features when shopping for a cost-effective VoIP system for less than 100 users.

In a full-blown test of five systems, reviewers tested the NetVanta 7100 from Adtran Inc., Quick Edition from Avaya Inc., Smart Business Communications System from Cisco Systems Inc., PBXtra from Fonality and Business Communications Manager 50 from Nortel Networks Corp. ChannelWeb said its test parameters were focused on the voice component of unified communications systems.

ChannelWeb chose Avaya’s product as its winner based on simplicity—of deployment, use, adding users and of management. Those are criteria I can agree with: If many small businesses are operating without a dedicated IT staff, or possibly a small staff (read: one or two computer-savvy employees, who probably hold some other position as well), simplicity makes the product much more usable.

Other pluses from the winner’s system include the ability to use existing networking infrastructure, speedy deployment and easy-to-use management interface. Fonality also displayed some of the same flexibility, including a pure software offering.

Reviewers said it was tough to choose between the Cisco and Adtran products: Adtran’s browser interface, management interface and “integrated VoIP system that has a very thorough and feature-rich management component” earned note; but Cisco earned points with its network monitoring capabilities, ability to work offline and greater add-on features and services.

I found the review a very interesting read, but the only answer it leaves with me is this: If I were a business owner, I’d still be reviewing the capabilities and functions of many systems, since every business is going to have different needs and preferences.

There’s never a one-size-fits-all answer for that type of question.

Hopefully, though, the question for most businesses is not “Should I use VoIP?” but instead “Which VoIP?”

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