[Aaug] Re: [ale] The world didn't end

[Odom, Steve]

To all AAUG members:
I tested and now have installed Aastra 9133i IP phones this weekend. I
have found that these phones are very well built and the audio on both
the speakerphone and handset is the best I have tested. One of the
unique features is a backup proxy. This allows for redundant server or
broadband access. If the connection is lost on the primary path, the
phone will use the backup proxy to connect to a backup server or through
a different broadband connection. In addition to having BLF, the phone
also has BLA or Bridge Line Appearance. This allows group shared pickup
capabilities. All phones within a group will ring on an incoming call,
only one phone is allowed to answer, however if the call is put on hold,
anyone within the group can pick up the call by pressing the lit button
assigned to the group. This is a great feature for a call center with
many separate groups. Also a great feature for home use is you can
assign all phones to the same group. The quality and rugged feel to this
phone is much better than my Grandstream GXP-2000 which I have been
using for about a year now. I have had 4 Grandstream phone failures
within that timeframe, 3 of which are POE related failures. I have a
loud Buzz on 2 phones and the other quit working with a POE connection.
I have now plugged them in using the power module, and they work again.
I understand that Grandstream has recently released an upgraded version
of this phone, and according to Bill Learning, this new version is
greatly improved, especially the audio and speaker phone function. They
apparently added some weight to the phone giving the feel and appearance
of higher quality, (it also helps to prevent the phone from falling onto
the floor when lifting the handset when the cord gets a little tangled).
I am hoping that Bill will give us his assessment when he concludes his
evaluation. Also, do not install the latest Beta firmware on the
GXP-2000 as it has many bugs. I found the lowest price for this phone
($125) at IPphone.com
http://www.ipphone-warehouse.com/products/a1720-0131010-05.html?src=aast
ra9133i&gclid=CPfn2Pq774oCFRJfUAodTRak_Q 
Hope this information is helpful to some of you, please submit your
evaluations of other phones or hardware to our group when you try
something new.

Steven A Odom