Finding the Total Cost of Ownership, Financial Crossover Points, and Implementation Distinctions between the Three Options
Many enterprises are at cross-roads in creating their voice and unified communications (UC) strategy. Assuming that the business drivers have been identified for unifying their communications capabilities, enterprises must decide among three competing deployment options for their UC solutions. These are
Option 1 – Premises-Based (Private Cloud). Install a new IP PBX, including UC functions, on the enterprise premises.
Option 2 – Cloud-Based or Fully Hosted. License and deploy PBX and UC functionality via a ‘Cloud’ or hosted option, that is any system servers and software will be hosted and run at the provider’s site with only user devices and necessary gateways and similar equipment on the enterprise premises.
Option 3 – Overlay or Side-by-Side. Install only the UC functionality so that it will co-exist Side-by-Side with the enterprise’s existing TDM-based or IP-based PBX(s). Although overlay deployments can be implemented either on-premises or in the cloud, this report focuses only upon the on-premises option.
This document provides a financial comparison between the options listed below and between multiple vendors for each option. It also provides commentary on the differences in functionality and in implementation approaches between the three options and the vendors’ solutions.
Option 1 – Premises-Based (Private Cloud). Install a new IP PBX, including UC functions, on the enterprise premises.
Option 2 – Cloud-Based or Fully Hosted. License and deploy PBX and UC functionality via a ‘Cloud’ or hosted option, that is any system servers and software will be hosted and run at the provider’s site with only user devices and necessary gateways and similar equipment on the enterprise premises.
Option 3 – Overlay or Side-by-Side. Install only the UC functionality so that it will co-exist Side-by-Side with the enterprise’s existing TDM-based or IP-based PBX(s). Although overlay deployments can be implemented either on-premises or in the cloud, this report focuses only upon the on-premises option.
This report was prepared by:
David Stein, Principal, Stein Technology Consulting Group, LLC
E. Brent Kelly, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Constellation Research, Inc.
Marty Parker, Principal, UniComm Consulting, LLC