Version 8 or 7.5?

[Crewdawg]

I am having a new Shoretel system installed this week. I want to use version 8 but the installer seems hesitant. We have 2 Shoregear 120s, a Shoregear T1, a very fast Shoretel server, and about 75 230/115 handsets. All of these run on Adtran 1335 POE switches/routers.

Are there any reasons not to use 8 other than all the kinks haven't been worked out? I have always been the type to start with the newest software and deal with the issues, it seems like less of a problem than getting less functionality. Problems also seem less severe if you deal with them from day one then if they get introduced after an upgrade.

The biggest reason we want 8 is the SIP extensions. It makes using the 8000 easier and allows us to add an extra functionality or two to existing devices.

Your thoughts?

[southeasternMI]

It's fairly new and probably needs some work, but for new installs I would definity go with ST8. ST8 PCM is a lot different then 7.5 PCM, your users would get comfortable
with ST7.5 PCM and then in six months have to learn ST8 PCM.
Why learn something twice

[Jlorenz]

St 8 has been fairly stable, if you go that route, make sure your installer gets the current version of ST8 and keep you at that level.

All inquires for the latest ST 8 until GA is available is [email protected]

Contact your Service provider for more details or if your Enterprise you call TAC and request the latest link.

*Note they will tell you to go to [email protected]

The one major difference in ST7.5 and ST8 is the entire Data Base is now moved to MySQL away form Access

[eazeaz]

8.

I sure wouldnt want to train my users on the 7.5 PCM and then have them convert. Go with 8 from the start and this pain will be eliminated.

If you think the audio sounds horrible with 8 change the codec to pcmu and you will be good to go.

By the way, I would stay away from the 110/115 phones at all costs. They are pieces of crap. We put in 5 or so for very low use areas (lunch room, lobby, etc) and had to pull them all back out.

I really like when everyone has the same phone. You don't want to sets of instructions on how to do things depending on which phone they have. For instance, Parking, transferring, directories, etc are different on a 230 than a 115.

the 110/115's always seem like a good way to save money in the beginning but rarely are.

[cburgy]

Use 13.9.5704.0 for Shoretel 8. We've been running 8.0 since about 1/15/08 (I think perhaps the first beta site, as is usual), no major problems. Most of the little bugs have been worked out.

All of our new installs are 8.0 and a number of existing customers are now upgrading. That being said, we carefully screen the customer environments to be sure there are not any known issues that would be service impacting. Reviewing the release notes with your partner would be a prudent decision.

[Crewdawg]

Thanks for all of the advice. You have confirmed what I suspected.

The 7.5 system is basically installed right now. We will not cutover for more than a week (waiting for a PRI to be handed over). Should I talk to the partner to see if they will install 8 between now and then?

[Bill Perry]

I'm over in the UK and just about to have my installation installed, starting next week with a go live of the 17th July.

We are down to having 7.5 installed. Am I right in thinking that V8 is not available outside the US yet? I'm being told that it will not be available over here until October.

Any information on this would be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Regards Bill

[Jlorenz]

Crewdawg and Bill Perry

I would not be anxious to move to 8, wait for GA to come out. Also in the Euro side, I would speak to TAC UK or your sale engineer from there on an ETA or getting on the Beta. The Folks in TAC do not have any information with regards to the road map or Build delivery, normally they know when you know. They are also forbidden to speak about anything that is not GA or CR

The reason I say wait for GA is as follows
In GA you have all of the Ported bug fixes from previous builds (ka 7.x) in CR you do not have these. Also with as fast as the fixes come out, you ca be overwhelmed with upgrades to get bug fixes for your customers under CR or beta.

Personally, I would not install a CR build onto a new customer, with out informing them of how the CR builds come and when GA will be available. I would also not be upgrading systems unless I have confirmed the issues are fixed in that build and read through the release notes. You may fix one bug but add another

[prunepie]

Could you elaborate on the the problems with the low-end phones? We are building our business model for pricing services to our users, and the cost of the entry level phone is an important part of the calculation. If those phones are dogs, we don't want to get a bad reputation among users.

[Jlorenz]

Could you elaborate on the the problems with the low-end phones? We are building our business model for pricing services to our users, and the cost of the entry level phone is an important part of the calculation. If those phones are dogs, we don't want to get a bad reputation among users.

It is not a matter of being dogs, they (the 110, 115, and 212's) simply are as you stated entry level more so the 110 and 115. They are designed to be closet phones, hall way phones, kitchen phones, Lobby phones. They are not designed to be Work Group agent Phones, UNLESS PCM IS USED and or ECC Agent, Operator phones or any typical situation that is used for high volume work.

They are what they are, simple phones with a single purpose, answer and make calls, no features. Its like a Yugo, all you get is tires a shell and an engine.

[eazeaz]

Low End Phones

If all you truly have to do is answer a ringing call then they are fine. They are basically the equivalent of grandma's old analog wall phone.

As soon as you need to park, transfer, make a call (no usable directory), etc they become nothing more than something you shouldn't have purchased.

We had several users tell us that ALL they needed was to be able to answer a call, needless to say, a month after install they were replaced with 560's. Parking a call required memorization of strange keycode combinations. Transferring was damn near impossible since the directory was unavailable.

I actually have a few that I would love to sell. Anyone want to buy some of these "great" phones? I will cut you a deal.

The ones we used were so cheap feeling it was embarrassing. In addition, you couldn't really wall mount the things very well. The handsets never seemed to stay in place.

If someone has an analog phone now, the 110 would be a good replacement. If someone has a "real" PBX type phone, it is most certainly a downgrade in my opinion.

[Forum]

In addition, you couldn't really wall mount the things very well. The handsets never seemed to stay in place.

Did you try and flip around the hook for the handset?

[eazeaz]

Hook

If only it were that simple.

If we had 10 people walk up, use the phone, and then hang it up (the first time), probably 5 of them would have the handset fall off and bounce off the counter.