I always like it when someone gives feedback on the equipment and software they try, so I thought I would return the favor.
I ordered an Aastra 57i to test drive, kick the tires etc.
I read about the look and feel of the 57i, and the xml scripts that were available, so I thought I would order one and see if the hoopla was correct.
I have a customer demo going on with 10 phones and the Polycoms (although a very good phone) aren't cutting it for this customer.
I have to say I AM IMPRESSED!
I updated the firmware as soon as it arrived (to 2.2.0.166) and installed the xml scripts.
That BIG brightly lit LCD display is excellent!
The Park and Parking Lot scripts are VERY VERY nice. Almost makes me forget about SLA.
The voice mail script is awesome! Especially with the option in the cfg file to make it work without the customer entering their password! (I put in a softkey to dial the customer's catchall vm box.)
And the Day/Night mode script is out of this World!!! To have a key lit when it is in Night mode, along with "Night Mode" on the phone's screen....(just makes me tingle all over). The only change we made was to have it change the 0 (zero) index instead of 1.
The phone along with the xml scripts makes a friendlier environment, which equates to ease of use for our customer, which equates to happy customer, which equates to more sales and more profits, which equates to happy boss (me). ; )
This phone just seems to do what you EXPECT a phone to do in the business world. I used this phone at my desk for several days (before it went to the customer demo site) and it is just EASY to use. And the options on the softkeys add to the "EASY".
FYI: Customer feedback is, "We love the Aastra, order 7 more and 2 with the cordless handset."
Compared to some other phones I've tried:
The Cisco I used for a while was good, but not great. The adjustable stand was excellent. Features were very limited.
The Polycom is a GOOD phone, but navigating to Directories and xml scripts was a horror to me. Never could get buddies to work correctly.
The Aastra 9133i is a GOOD phone. Just doesn't hold a candle to it's newest sibling.
The 57i takes a lot of the worry off of our company for things like: teaching the customer an excessive amount of feature codes...and keeping the customer from freaking out when they lose the SLA capabilities of their old system. (Did I mention that the Park and Parking Lot scripts are VERY VERY nice!!!)
We will definitely be switching to these phones (along with the 53i, 55i, 57i CT) for all of our future installations.
A big Thanks to Aastra and
Ethan at Schmooze Communications.
I know this may sound like an Aastra commercial...but trust me...
if something falls into the "SUCKS" category
(Seriously Unusable Crappy Knuckleheaded Systems)
I would be the FIRST to say it sucks.
Downside: (if you can call these downsides)
I ended up changing the key "Callers", which is on a key once you press "More" on the bottom of the screen, by putting it on one of the top softkeys where it is available immediately so the customer will be able to check missed calls more efficiently.
Not enough adjustment in the base (stand, feet..whatever they're called on this model) for me. I would like it to angle a little higher. (but that could be because the Cisco spoiled me on that)
The handset could be a better design, but it's not bad.
Now, everyone on my staff wants me to replace our ciscos, polycoms, and older aastras with the 57i.
Member Since:
2006-09-24