Suggestions for small call centre

[dshutts]

Hi guys

Have been looking into the best option for a small outgoing call centre of 5 personnel. Have decided on Elastix with the call centre functions and vTiger (which I have experience with). I have a linux background, but haven't work with the VOIP distros before, but have done some research.

The issue I need advice on is one of the connection to the outside world - I am leaning towards ISDN, but am unsure if Telkom can in time. From what I have read on here and elsewhere, the analogue lines are not worth considering. ADSL not good enough either.

So what other options are available?

Can Neotel / iBurst phone offerings integrate with Elastix?​

Are there any other data connection options in JHB to use pure VOIP with a provider?​

Site is in Blairgowrie with line of site to Sandton - any non WUG commercial offerings with decent latency?​

Any advice or considerations are really appreciated.

Shot.

 

[morkhans]

Telkom ISDN is a good bet for that size deployment. Other option is a VoIP provider over whatever connectivity you can muster. VoIP over ADSL can work, providing you dedicate the ADSL line to only VoIP and you use a compressed codec like g729. Of course ADSL is a best effort service, so that's a risk. If you cannot get ADSL where you are someone like Amobia might be able to help.

 

[dshutts]

Thanks for that. Amobia looks like a good option and I am in the middle of a big green spot for them.

Does anyone have experience with them - support, network stability, etc.. esp. for a voice application.

What would be the best VOIP provider be then for calls on the Telkom network?

 

[gmza]

Switch Telecom will provide a SIP or IAX2 trunk for you running over either ADSL or wireless connectivity (including Amobia). And, yes, g.729 codec as per morkhans' suggestion! I suggest you look at the Yealink phones (also available from Switch) as they're the most affordable when you need high-end features and headsets. Snom are also nice for call centre use, but more costly. All details and pricing on www.switchtel.co.za or call 087 550 0000 for further info.

 

[dshutts]

Thanks - looks like g.729 is the way to go.

I see Amobia has space in the MTN data centre in Gallo Manor, of which I have LOS, if they have a highsite there that I could jump onto - 1 or 2 hops into that datacentre should give me great latency. I would use ADSL, but for some reason - maybe contention ratio - the latency from that location is +- 150ms to the same datacentre, on saix, IS, unshaped accounts - on a 4 Mb line!

Anyway. Thanks for all the suggestions, I have left a message for amobia to call me back, and I will pull out the grids to do a signal test if all goes well.

 

[ppedrick]

Hi,

I've been chatting with various people in the office and there's some discussion about your LOS to Gallo Manor and the latency on your ADSL line.

Firstly, you should be getting ~10ms ping on the ADSL line based on your location, so there might be something wrong with the line.
Then it just a question of where your exact co-ordinates are on this.

We can definitely help you with this but would like to concetrate on the core parts of this to find you the best solution moving forward, if you use us or not.

If you PM me your number and co-ordinates then i'll get one of our VoIP specialist to call you and go through some tests on the ADSL as well. We're just down the road in Rosebank and so ping us and them should show very similar results of ~10ms.

Cheers Peter

 

[morkhans]

Switch Telecom will provide a SIP or IAX2 trunk for you running over either ADSL or wireless connectivity (including Amobia). And, yes, g.729 codec as per morkhans' suggestion! I suggest you look at the Yealink phones (also available from Switch) as they're the most affordable when you need high-end features and headsets. Snom are also nice for call centre use, but more costly. All details and pricing on www.switchtel.co.za or call 087 550 0000 for further info.

Snom phones are very good. I don't have experience with the yealink phones. If you are attaching headsets to PCs the Logitech easy chat range is pretty good bang for buck. You can also check out Connection Telecom for VoIP minutes.

Thanks - looks like g.729 is the way to go.

I see Amobia has space in the MTN data centre in Gallo Manor, of which I have LOS, if they have a highsite there that I could jump onto - 1 or 2 hops into that datacentre should give me great latency. I would use ADSL, but for some reason - maybe contention ratio - the latency from that location is +- 150ms to the same datacentre, on saix, IS, unshaped accounts - on a 4 Mb line!

Anyway. Thanks for all the suggestions, I have left a message for amobia to call me back, and I will pull out the grids to do a signal test if all goes well.

We have a number of clients who use Amobia and get good support from them.