Top Three VoIP Vendors

[swatts007]

Hello all. I am new to the VoIP arena. I wanted to know if anyone could comment on who the top three vendors of VoIP gear are and their strengths and weaknesses?

[thisisshanky]

Cisco, Cisco, Cisco

[swatts007]

Well, I sort of expected a response such as this, but still, it is not very helpful. If may be you could provide feedback I can use then this board might of some use. I have been tasked with writing a white paper that compares the pros and cons of the top three vendors of VoIP gear. Any thoughts suggestions? I know Cisco is one of the top three but who would be considered the other two?

[goranselthofer]

maybe Avaya is second...

[swatts007]

Thanks. Who might be the third?

[thisisshanky]

I have seen a lot of customers implementing Avaya and 3Com phone systems (IP).

Nortel Networks is also not far behind on IP Systems, but there market share is limited to existing customers who have a digital PBX.

[Chris Deren]

I would put them in following order:

Cisco

Avaya

Siemens

Alcatel(Europe)

Nortel

3Com

[swatts007]

Thanks for the info.

Steve

[teodorgeorgiev]

No offense, but all the above posts show zero experience in the multivendor VoIP world.

As related to VoIP gateways (FXS, FXO, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI), the top 5 vendors are:

1. Cisco

2. Quintum (very, very popular gateways, excellent implementation)

3. AddPac

4. VegaStream

5. VocalTec (have some interopability issues, but the quality of the voice is far better than Cisco's).

The companies, mentioned above are just funny. Siemens in example, have a little to offer in the VoIP world. Their HG-1500 (H.323) module shows completely misunderstanding of the IPT technology. And they do not offer any VoIP gateways.

As far for the gatekeepers/softswitches, the most widely used between the carriers are:

1. NexTone

2. MERA MVTS

3. GnuGK

4. Asterisk

5. Quintum Call Relay

[swatts007]

Awesome!!! Your understanding of the material is great. I really appreciate your feedback.

Thanks again.

Steve

[kleo]

If your talking IP telephony,call center,messeging and voice apps All the above teodorgeorgiev mentioned are worthless Excluding cisco.

When Talking IP Telephony

Avaya, Cisco, Nortel,Siemens are the leaders not sure why that's funny???

No offense to you but the companies you mentioned are all used for voip carrier/transport.

Clarify IPT of h.323 voip ??

[teodorgeorgiev]

I have clarified it very well, at least for those who read. I would recommend you to READ *BEFORE* WRITE and not vice versa.

1. I have clearly stated that the list is for:

* GATEWAYS

* SOFTSWITCHES

Haven't you read it ?

2. The guy asked about "VoIP gears", he did not ask "call centers", "messenging and voice apps".

3. No offense again, but all the companies I have mentioned are used also for interconnecting traditional (TDM) telephony with IPT. I have completed personnaly more than 80 configurations of TDM-IP migration for different offices PBXes by using Quintum and Cisco.This is not arrier/transport.

And it does not cost "arm and leg" (as Siemens and Avaya products do), works reliable.

Asterisk is a multi-protocol (H323/SIP/MGCP/SCCP) softswitch, which has also built-in a lot of features, needed by the IP PBX (Class 5) softswitches, call centers... etc. Here are few examples - voice mail, call parking, conference calls, IVR call center solutions and etc.

Asterisk is rarely used with H323. It is even not implemented there, but available as third-party add-on.

GnuGK is a H323 gatekeeper, used not only by carriers, but also by uni's, schools and etc.

4. No offense again, but I have mentioned it clearly that they are used mainly for voip carrier/transport. Read it here:

"As far for the gatekeepers/softswitches, the most widely used between the carriers are:".

Haven't you read this too?

5. I am claryfing - IPT. Allmost all of the equipment named by me, "speaks" not only H323.

Cisco, Quintum, Vegastream, AddPac, NexTone, Asterisk, MERA MVTS speak also SIP.

Don't you know this?

6. When talking about class 5 softswitches (IP PBX), the leaders are:

1. Avaya

2. NetCentrex

3. Cisco (CCM/CCME/Unity and etc)

4. Asterisk

5. Nortel

Avaya and NetCentrex are very, very expensive.

Siemens have nothing to do with IP telephony. They are trying, but only trying. I have enough *practical* experience with Siemens product to have

the base to claim that.

Goodbye and once again - read before write!

[kleo]

Thanks for the clarification, i'll file it under "Whatever" or "Worthless" post!

and not sure where you get Avaya is expensive, but compared to cisco ccm the price points are comparable and that's a fact.

Also when most people say voip they really mean IPT, thanks again for the clarification :)