The 3Com V3000 telephone system, which is the unofficial replacement of the NBX-100 system, provides many licenses and applications which make the 3Com product even a greater value than it has already been. 3Com 3100 series phones are a highly improved set of phones compared to older models that left a lot to be desired: highly intuitive and functional, esthetically pleasing, with new features that provide better than toll voice quality. And, the recently released 6.x software code includes basic ACD functionality, including queuing and intuitive reporting for supervisors.

The system itself has always been solid, and now in its 6th generation of code, it is better than ever. A single chassis in the V3000 model provides everything, including call processing, voicemail, and a 4-port analog gateway. The administrator interface is a single Web-based view that is very easy to use. Also, because it is Web-based, you use it from anywhere you have Internet access.

The SS3 model of the NBX system is the higher-end solution, with scalability to 1,500 devices, or roughly 1,300 extensions. SS3, also referred to as the V5000, provides further redundancy and general robustness.

3Com has done an excellent job in developing a system that is very easy to use, yet built on a platform that is extremely robust and reliable. The emphasis placed on ease of use and affordability often gives the impression that 3Com is a mid-grade solution. We view that as pure nonsense. A more complex solution does not equate to a better solution. You CAN have a high performance telephone system that is easy to use and maintain AND competitively priced. 3Com has it.

We recommend the 3Com NBX product to any mid-sized company (10 to 1,000 employees) that has a single IT organization responsible for both voice and data. Even for very small companies with no IT staff at all, the NBX product is a great choice. Additionally, the 3Com data products, such as routers and switches, enable companies to have a single-vendor solution that is fully compatible and congruent in terms of operation and administration. You can also use FREE 3Com management software to monitor your entire network.

One of the key factors as to why 3Com is such an easy system to use and maintain is that the system, while an IP-PBX, doesn’t have to use the IP protocol. In fact, it only uses the IP protocol when it has to traverse across a router. For single site companies, that means you don’t have to manage IP addresses and other IP-related servers such as DHCP, DNS, FTP, NTP, and others. The way the phones communicate with the system is via Ethernet addresses (MAC address), which are discovered automatically.

The 3Com NBX product is a largely proprietary solution, so you are limited to phones and applications that are specifically made for it. With the recent release of code, you have the option of deploying the NBX in “SIP Mode”, which provides some degree of interoperability with other SIP-based solutions.

3Com NBX also offers limited redundancy and no PC-based software for collaboration. It does provide a web interface for users to manage some tasks such as personal speed dials, call forwarding, and voicemail management.

While we believe the NBX is a great single site solution, the networking functionality is limited to only call routing between sites. Voicemail and Dial-By-Name directory information is not carried across the enterprise.