Interestingly, the main reason many executives have for wanting a new IP-PBX telephone system is that it is the only alternative they've been offered. This is unnecessarily restrictive and does not reflect the range of real choices available to businesses today.
What are some of the options (which may or may not apply in any given situation, of course) potential buyers actually have?
1. Expanding or updating a current non-IP system. Even if the existing system is at capacity, most systems come in families, and a larger version may be available. Now, it may not be available from your current vendor, or at least not until the vendor faces losing your business. However, making the vendor face the facts without endangering the relationship is merely one of the functions of a competent consultant. Since Teleconvergence only recommends systems with multiple sources of supply and maintenance, alternatives are always at hand.
2. Expanding or updating a current non-IP system by adding VoIP capabilities where needed. Note: in general, they are not needed everywhere. Most good-sized phone systems work perfectly well in Legacy/IP-PBX form. Think of it as a hybrid: if it works for a car, why can't it work just as well for a telephone system?
3. If your existing phone system would be good enough if it wasn't too old to be any good any more, consider purchasing a newer preowned system that's the same as yours -- perhaps one with a larger capacity -- and using the extra equipment as a virtually free source of free cards and telephones.
4. If your system is getting old and replacement parts and models are unavailable or the feature set is also antiquated, consider purchasing a different but newer preowned Legacy system from a company that has recently purchased an IP-based system, whether they really needed it or not.
5. Using VoIP for some locations, but not all, and not necessarily for the main location.
6. Purchasing a new VoIP IP-PBX. See it really is a choice, just not the only one.
7. Instead of buying your own system, use a Hosted IP-PBX service to satisfy your needs, for headquarters, or for your branch offices, or even both.
Teleconvergence isn't biased against technology or VoIP (after all, part of our practice consists of helping clients determine whether to get into the VoIP business), but we do think a company should consider its alternatives based on its needs, not on the latest technology or what the first three salespersons you contacted said you should buy.
As we do elsewhere in this section, we'd like to again suggest that you read the information in The Teleconvergence Process, especially the first part, Selecting a System --- And Getting it Backward. The information will give you a good idea of whether our approach is right for you.