IPedge vs the Competition
Toshiba Telecommunication Systems Division
January 2012
Single Server Simplicity
IPedge Architecture
Multiple applications integrated into a single
Unified Communication platform
Single Server Simplicity
Advantages and Benefits
Performance Driven IP Architecture
- A single IP address provides cost effective deployment
- The Linux operating system provides a higher level of
security than other operating systems
- RAID options and survivability within or across the
network ensure business continuity in the event of a
hardware failure
-Calls Stay Live due to Peer to Peer Connection
-When primary Server is Back on-line IP Phones will
re-register
Advantages and Benefits
Performance Driven IP Architecture
– SIP trunks work natively
• Does not require gateways
– Gateways can be used to interface to the PSTN for
analog and digital trunks
– Strata CIX can also be used as a gateway
• Digital telephones connected to a Strata CIX
• Connection of analog and digital trunks
– IPedge EC & EM sleek 1U profile server chassis
occupies minimum rack space
– IPedge EP can also be rack-mounted 1.5U
Advantages and Benefits
Networking Between IPedge and Strata CIX
– Enabled via IPedge Net using one IP address
– Complete compatibility unlike many competitors
Advantages and Benefits
Ease of Installation & Administration
- Browser-based system administration
- Centralized management
- Personal administration
- Unified administration for Call Processing,
Voicemail, Call Manager, and Meet-Me
Conferencing/Web Collaboration
Advantages and Benefits
Ease of Installation & Administration
(continued)
- Bacula built-in daily back-up and recovery
options
- Webmin provides Web-based interface to
key Linux functions
- Your techs don’t have to learn Linux
- Easily accessed through Enterprise
Manager
Messaging
Voicemail/Unified Messaging Built Into IPedge
• Full integration voicemail, unified messaging with fax
integration into IPedge architecture
• Included bundled number of users with unified messaging
and Call Manager Standard (EP=6 or 16, EC=24, EM=32)
• IPedge manages all voicemail resources
• Administered through Enterprise Manager
IPedge
Tech programs
extension, then clicks
“Create New mailbox”
Messaging
Functionality to Meet Customer Needs
– Find-Me / Follow-Me call routing
– Record calls to mailbox with a one touch button
– Scripts to customize voicemail, IVR functions, enhance
features, e.g., recording and playback, audio files, caller
entries for special call routing
– Mailboxes activated by User Licenses
• Unified messaging standard feature for initially
packaged number of users
• Add as needed beyond starter bundle
Call Manager
Two Call Manager Versions Available
• Call Manager Standard is FREE – included with IPedge
• Call Manager Advanced provides full functionality
Call Manager Advanced
Call Manager Standard
LCD/Main window
Yes
Main 9 buttons
Yes, but no ACD/action
Action/personal handler/CRM integration
screen pop
No
VoIP voice plug-in option
No
Call History
No
Contacts
No
Presence and Chat
No
More programmable buttons
No
Launch Web page and run program
No
ACD viewer
No
Personal Power Dialer
No
TAPI integration (example: dialing from
Outlook)
Yes
Settings carried forward upon upgrade to
Advanced
No
Standard
Advanced
Competitive Positioning
Strengths to Emphasize vs Competitors
• More effective multi-application support in one server
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PBX call processing
Messaging (voicemail/unified messaging/follow-me)
Call Manager
Enterprise Manager centralized administration
– Manages call processing, messaging, and meeting /
collaboration applications all from one interface
– Browser-based so no software to install on user PCs
– Personal admin level for individual users
– Webmin (so you don’t have to be a Linux expert)
– Bacula (easy and efficient daily back-up and recovery)
– Meeting/Web Collaboration (EC & EM)
Competitive Positioning
Strengths to Emphasize vs Competitors
• Fits small to large market segments with one product
– Three server sizes to fit capacity/price requirements
– Same software features and applications
– Same telephones and endpoint devices
• Networking between IPedge servers and Strata CIX
systems with complete compatibility
• Survivability within or across the network ensures
business continuity in the event of a hardware failure
• Linux operating system high acceptance by IT managers
– Industry standard
– Provides high level of scalability
– Security and more virus resistant than other operating systems
Competitive Positioning
Strengths to Emphasize vs Competitors
• And don’t forget the Toshiba company strengths
– Toshiba corporate strength and tradition of innovation
– History and commitment to the telecommunications
business
– Partnership with the best nationwide dealer network and
the industry’s best National Accounts program
– Well deserved reputation for quality and reliable products
that provide low total cost of ownership
– Total Office Solution also offering copiers, laptops, and
surveillance video/recording systems
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Cisco
• Cisco Unified Comm. Manager lacks essential features
– Separate Music-on-Hold (MOH) and Background Music interfaces
– Override Capabilities (Do-not-Disturb, Class of Service, Toll
Restriction via Speed Dial)
– Auto Busy Redial
– Trunk Queuing with Callback
– Automatic Hold
– Park/Page single-step functionality
– Door Lock interface
– Voice Mail Monitor & Answer
– Hot Desking
– Adaptability feature customization tools like IPedge Scripting tools
and Strata CIX FeatureFlex
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Cisco
• Unified Comm. Manager Express, UC540/560 and
UC320 systems also lack additional important features
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E911 Handling of Remote IP Telephones
Busy Override
Verifiable Account Codes
Direct Inward System Access (DISA)
Door Alarm interface
Tenant service
System Diagnostics
Traffic Measurement and Reporting
Multiple Music-on-Hold interfaces (Toshiba systems support 15
MOH sources and Unified Communications Manager Express and
UC540/560 support only 2)
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Cisco
• Cisco UC320 and UC540/560 small systems designed
for single-site applications and have poor networking
– Only up to five system nodes
– Only network to Unified Communications Manager Express
systems
– Cannot network with larger Unified Communications Manager
systems
– UC320 and UC540/560 systems must be administered
individually and do not support centralized administration the
way Unified Communications Manager and Unified
Communications Manager Express systems and Toshiba
systems do
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Cisco
• Cisco IP telephones lack many important features that
Toshiba IP telephones provide
– Multiple Directory Number call coverage with Phantom DNs, and
Cisco’s boss/admin shared line access offers limited capabilities
and is a poor substitute for true multiple DN capabilities
– Hot Dialing
– Automatic Hold
– Background Music played through telephone speakers
– Busy Lamp Field (BLF) display of station status is only available on
certain expensive models and not on the more affordable models
most commonly used
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Avaya
• IP Office lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples:
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Direct Inward System Access (DISA)
Tenant Service
Background Music Through Telephones
Separate Interfaces for MOH and BGM
• IP Office only supports two Music-on-hold (MOH)
sources compared to up to 15 MOH sources on Toshiba
– IPedge supports up to 15 MOH wav files built-in to the system
– Toshiba users find it very valuable to play different information
messages for different departments that callers may be holding for
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Avaya
• Toshiba systems have better multi-system networking
capabilities than the IP Office
– IP Office networking only works as a node controlled by an Aura
Media Server
– IP Office systems cannot provide comprehensive networking by
themselves, but can provide limited IP networking between up to
32 nodes
– If connection to the Aura controller is lost, networking between all
nodes goes down.
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over ShoreTel
• ShoreTel lacks name recognition in the general business
community
– Well known in the telecom industry but not in the general public
– In this business since 1998, so no longer a newcomer, but far from
Toshiba’s market presence
– Toshiba Telecommunication Systems Division has been a
telecommunications leader for over 30 years, and Toshiba
Corporation has been a world technology leader for over 125 years
• Toshiba’s reputation for quality and reliability is
unmatched in the telecommunications industry
– ShoreTel products do not have the same reputation for quality and
reliability
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over ShoreTel
• ShoreTel system lacks many important IPedge features
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Auto Busy Redial
Auto Off-hook Selection
Trunk Line Queuing with Callback
Station Queuing with Callback
Continuous DTMF Tone
Exclusive Hold
Privacy/Non-privacy Options
Ringing Line Preference
Multiple Music on Hold sources (only one per site vs 15 Toshiba)
ShoreTel paging features are weak, lacking Park/Page combo
feature, Emergency Page, and Night Ringing over Selected Page
Zones
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Mitel
• Mitel telephone migration is very limited
– Mitel gives the illusion that their 5000-series IP telephones are
compatible with all Mitel systems
– However, no telephone is compatible with all Mitel systems
– Only certain telephone models work with certain Mitel systems
– Overall telephone upward compatibility very limited and confusing
– All Toshiba IP5000-series telephones are compatible with all
IPedge and Strata CIX systems
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Mitel 5000 CS
• The 5000 CS does not support an IP DSS console
• The 5000 CS is not well suited to analog trunk
applications, with maximum 14 loop start line maximum,
SIP trunks must be used to expand trunk capacity
• The 5000 CS is also not well suited to analog station
applications, lacking message waiting light support
(support stutter dial tone only)
• The 5000 CS ACD is weak in advanced functionality
lacking skills-based routing and callbacks in queue
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Mitel SX-200
• Mitel SX200 lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples:
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Auto Busy Redial
Pooled line buttons
Separate music-on-hold and background interface
Dual color LEDs for I-use and I-hold
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Mitel SX-200
• IPedge has advantages in call center applications
– SX-200 ACD only supports 100 active agents per system, which is
inadequate for larger call center applications
– Toshiba ACD supports up to 360 active agents per system
– SX-200 ACD has limited call distribution methods, lacking
balanced call count, preferred agent, and agent priority routing, all
of which is provided by the Toshiba Enhanced ACD
– SX-200 ACD does not enable agents to log into multiple groups,
like the Toshiba ACD does
– SX-200 ACD software is system resident, but displays and
reporting requires a separate dedicated server to run on
– Toshiba ACD has the advantage of running on the MAS, which is a
shared platform with all other value-added applications
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over NEC
• NEC telephone compatibility is limited within the DSX,
UX5000, and SV8100/SV8300/SV8500 product lines and
each product line has their own telephone sets
– DSX telephones are not upward compatible with NEC UX5000 or
SV8100/SV8300/SV8500 systems
– UX5000 telephones are not upward compatible with NEC
SV8100/SV8300/SV8500 systems either
– DT700 IP telephones and DT300 digital telephones are only
compatible with Univerge SV8100, SV8300, and SV8500 systems.
They are not compatible with smaller UX5000 or DSX systems.
– This makes NEC migration both complicated and more expensive
– All Toshiba IP5000-series telephones are compatible with all
IPedge and Strata CIX systems
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over NEC UX5000
• Nothing is upward migratable from the NEC UX5000 to
the larger Univerge SV8100 or SV8300 systems
– Must must completely change product lines and throw out their
entire investment
– IPedge customers migrating from a smaller to a larger server take
licensing, gateways, and telephones with them
• UX5000 supports only basic ACD capabilities, lacking
advanced functionality such as skills-based routing, trunk
priority routing, preferred agent, agent priority, and web
callback, all of which Toshiba’s ACD can provide
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over NEC UX5000
• UX5000 lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples:
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Hot Desk
Call Forward Multiple (for external calls and internal calls)
Call Forward Remote Change Destination
Serial Station Hunting
Multi-node Central Management
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over NEC Univerge SV8100
• NEC SV8100 lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples:
– Hot Desk
– Hot dial pad
– Multiple directory numbers (SV8100 call arrival keys are not an
equivalent substitute and do not provide Phantom DN capabilities).
– Extensive call forwarding modes (SV8100 lacks system-wide default
and remote call forward does not allow remote destination change
– SV8100 only provides 3 external paging zones/groups compared to
8 on IPedge EP and EC, and 24 on IPedge EM
– SV8100 InACD provides limited contact center capabilities
compared to Toshiba’s robust application
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over NEC Univerge SV8300
• NEC SV8300 lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples:
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Hot dial pad
Continuous DTMF tone on dial pad
Conference Split/Drop Flexibility
Automatic hold/release option setting
Night ringing over external zone paging
Background Music Through Telephones
Background Music Separate Interface from Music-on-Hold
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Digium’s promise of “open source” free PBX software that anyone can
download and use is a false promise
• Early proponents touted Asterisk as a free PBX in which all you had to
do is download the Asterisk software onto your Linux server, install
telephony boards, connect your trunks, plug in your telephones, and
start making calls
• This perception didn’t last long
– Adopters quickly discovered the high level of IT expertise required for a
successful installation and ongoing maintenance of the system
– This often wiped out expected cost savings
– Unless you are a skilled systems integrator, Asterisk is not suitable for selfinstallation
– Unless you have a capable IT staff, maintenance must be contracted to
Digium or a capable systems integrator
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Asterisk is far from free . . . farther yet from easy to implement
• Once downloaded, Asterisk software has to be properly installed on
the server you have purchased
– This includes setting all the programmable options within the system,
extension numbering, auto attendant routing, voice mail preferences, etc.
– This takes a trained technician, just like most any other telephone system
• Plus network assessment and quality of service (QoS) preparation,
and all the usual physical installation of trunk connection, station
connection, downloading/ printing/distributing user guides, user
training, etc.
• And don’t forget the Java programming and other expertise required
to integrate other applications that will be used with the system and its
databases
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Asterisk is far from free . . . farther yet from easy to implement
• Unless the customer has in-house technical experts on staff to handle
all this, they have to contract with a systems integrator to get it
accomplished successfully
• After all this is completed, even though you download the software at
no charge, you must pay for an annual maintenance contract
renewable each year to Digium to get support for bug fixes, future
upgrade versions, troubleshooting tech support, etc.
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Asterisk is far from free . . . farther yet from easy to implement
• If this implementation process sounds difficult and risky, it should
• Articles have been written in industry publications about the
nightmares some enterprises lived through, and how expected cost
savings never materialized
• The difficulty of implementation and systems integration is what has
given birth to companies like Fonality, who sell Asterisk-based turnkey
systems
• Even Digium themselves, the makers of Asterisk, don’t recommend
the “download and go” approach
– They prefer to sell you their Switchvox turnkey product
– Switchvox consists of the Asterisk software pre-installed on a built-forpurpose server, with installation, training, other required integration and
professional services, and the first year pre-paid annual software
maintenance fee
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Three models of Switchvox systems available:
– The Digium Switchvox AA65 Appliance supports up to 30 users, but only up
to 12 concurrent calls
– The Digium Switchvox AA305 Appliance supports up to 150 users, but only
up to 45 concurrent calls
– The Digium Switchvox AA355 Appliance supports up to 400 users, but only
up to 75 concurrent calls
• All Digium systems use a blocking architecture that requires careful
planning for the number of active users
• Customer requiring more than 75 simultaneous users must source
their own higher capacity server platform and build their own system,
making Asterisk an unfeasible alternative for enterprises of this size
and larger
• A much better alternative is the IPedge or Strata CIX systems that
have several models available and support up to 1,000 simultaneous
users
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Digium does not make telephones for Asterisk or Switchvox systems
• Third-party IP telephones are required, most commonly from Snom,
Grandstream, and Polycom
• Snom and Grandstream telephones do not have a quality reputation
• Polycom telephones are higher quality but expensive
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Asterisk lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples:
– Call coverage is not provided with multiple directory numbers –
Asterisk allows multiple appearances of your directory number on
your phone, but not your DN on my phone for call coverage
– Auto Off-hook Selection (line preference)
– Door Unlock control function
– E911 does not handle remote IP telephone phone locator
– Off-hook Call Announce via telephone speaker (handset only).
– Busy Override (Executive Override only)
Competitive Positioning
IPedge Advantages Over Asterisk
• Asterisk lacks important feature capabilities that the
IPedge provides – a few examples (continued):
– Release key and Release/Answer key
– Asterisk supports very limited LCD Feature Prompting Display and
Soft Key operation, and none for voicemail operation
– Asterisk touts their low-function ACD as a low cost call center
solution
• However, it lacks so many basic capabilities that it is impractical to use for
many call center customers
• Does not offer the advanced functionality of Toshiba ACD
• To achieve high function call center capabilities, expensive third-party
ACD software must be deployed
Competitive Positioning
Competitive Reports Available on FYI
• IPedge info added to reports on several competitors
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Power Consumption Comparison
Toshiba vs Hosted Services
IPedge vs Competition Features
Strata CIX vs Competition Features
Allworx
Asterisk
Avaya
Cisco
ESI
Mitel
NEC
Panasonic
ShoreTel
Competitive Positioning
Competitive Reports Available on FYI
• IPedge feature comparison vs several competitors
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Allworx
Altigen
Asterisk
Avaya
Cisco
HP/3Com
Mitel
NEC
ShoreTel
Vertical
Zultys
Competitive Positioning
Updated Pocket Guide on FYI
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