Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for information! I’ve collated the answers below and believe I’ve included everyone. What a great group of colleagues!!!
Rebecca Higgerson
Director
Brandon Township Public Library
304 South Street
Ortonville MI 48462
(248) 627-1474 (office)
(916) 471-9955 (cell)
(248) 627-9880 (fax)
We have one of those fancy VOIP systems, made more complicated by all our locations. I'm only writing to let you know that BCS (Business Communications Systems) out of Sterling Heights has not been good to deal with when it comes to service. Part of that is cost, which may be a result of my not having a lawyer look over the contract. The other is response time, which is terrible and at times has taken phone call after phone call. The phones that we have from them are NEC, and the phones themselves are pretty reliable.
I understand that Brady's Business Systems from Grand Blanc works with phones as well as the copiers and printers that they've provided for us. Their service is wonderful. I can't say anything about any phone product that they offer, but the printers and copiers that we bought from them are workhorses.
Melissa Malcolm
Lapeer
We are currently in the middle of installing a new phone system. Our tactic was to hire a consultant from Convergent Technology Partners (http://ctpartners.net) to manage both the bid process and project. They were extremely helpful and worth the extra money.
The phone vendor we are working with is BSB Communications (http://www.phonesystemssaintclairshores.com) which is a Mitel Phone vendor. So far, we have been very pleased with them as a vendor. We have been training this week and plan to cut over on March 26.
Kevin King
Head, Branch and IT Services
Kalamazoo Public Library
We replaced a very old (and dead) system last year. We used Technology Solutions and purchased the Zultys system. We did not have an opportunity to look at other systems, since the phone system died suddenly. We used Technology Solutions when we built the library back in 2003 and we were happy with their service. We've been very pleased so far. I especially like that there is a connection to our computers and we can mark from the computer whether we're at lunch, in a meeting, etc.
My contact at Technology Solutions is Kevin Murphy kmurphy@ts-llc.com 1-734-793-6201
Tina L. Hatch, Director
Milford Public Library
We got a new phone system fairly recently. We used Amerinet out of Ann Arbor. 734-995-1233. We went to a VoIP system.
Diane McKee
Howell
We recently updated from an old PBX style system to a Hybridized VOIP system (it's a proper VOIP system using the old 2 wire cat3 wiring).
We used CTS/Unitel out of Ann Arbor as our vendor. Our contact is "Mark Coley" <mcoley@cts-companies.com>, and they provide mostly a Toshiba based system that we're very happy with.
We didn't need a lot of bells and whistles either, and while going through the process, we were offered ALL the bells and whistles. It made sorting out the companies we talked to very easy, as some wanted (even demanded that we needed the bells and whistles to be "modern") to sell us full scale service contractors (any problem? Call us! We'll fix it, and then we'll bill you.)
We have caller ID, holds, 4 lines for 27 phones, it will send messages via email when a voice mail is received (easy to use WAV files), as well as do normal voice mail. The menu system is easy to configure and CTS offered to set us up with a fairly reasonable service plan (but we've chosen to go with the pay per issue service). The only "downside" is we'd like a little more flexibility to the auto-close and holiday functionality.
Other vendors we spoke with were:
CCI Solutions - "Michael Weatherly" <mike.weatherly@cci4solutions.com>
Clear Rate - "Bethany Wurtsmith" <bwurtsmith@clearrate.com>
Premises Systems - "Jonathan Jarvis" <jjarvis@PREMSYS.NET>
SunTel Systems - "Charlie D Mitchell" <CharlieMitchell@Suntel.com>
TDS Metrocom - "Shellee Corwin" <shellee.corwin@tdsmetro.com>
Unknown if any of these are still at their respective companies, but they were all very strong companies with a lot to like. We spent awhile choosing which company to go with.
Lastly, as I'm sure you're aware, TLN is working on a rather large VOIP solution with multiple vendors, and it would be worth contact Angie Michelini (amichelini@tln.lib.mi.us) if you haven't already to ask for more details on what they're working on. She noted at the TLN Tech Comm meeting today that they expect to do a VOIP demo very soon with a chosen or several identified vendors.
Michael McEvoy
Northville
We haven't done it yet, but have been talking with a gentleman that I trust implicitly when it comes to any IT matters who is not installing Internet based phone systems. His name is Ben Hahaj and his company is called Priority Computer. He can be reached via e-mail or phone. He has two e-mail addresses: ben@pcs4you.com and ben@prioritycomputer.biz. Phone and address: 6561 Lonewolf Drive, South Bend, IN 46628, (574) 236-5979. I'm not sure how far Ben strays from home, but you could check with him. Again, we haven't gone to his phone system yet, but as soon as we can, we intend to. Ben has done a significant amount of IT work for us and he is great.
Jennifer Ray
Cass District Library
We received bids from 9 VoIP vendors. We are in the process of reviewing the bids.
Since your library is on cable, I have a few questions. Is your Charter cable connection on a business connection vs. residential? What is your download/upload speed? Since VoIP works over the internet, the connection speed is very important as well as the stability and reliability of the connection.
Most of the libraries that are interested in the TLN VoIP solution are on our wide area network and have fiber connections with guaranteed bandwidth speeds.
One suggestion is for you to call Charter. I believe they offer phone services. I think Northfield Township Library has been using them for phone service. You may wish to call Zaley Nelson or Marion Beard at that library and ask them about it. Their number is 734.449.0066.
Thanks,
Angie Michelini
Technology Services Manager
The Library Network
[In 2002 we had phone system bids from Allied Communications (the low at $20,262 and next highest was a little over $2,000 more), REH Associates, Communications Technologies, Suntel, Technology Solutions, CTS Unitel, BSB Communications, ITI, RN Communications and All-Tronics (the high at $39,201.03) I do still have the Request for Bid document, although i know that technology has changed ]
For this round we had considered working with Bill Craig at Convergent Technology Partners (http://www.ctpartners.net/), but not quite ready to go that route.
Our Township is looking to establish a local phone system, just installed a system with Dynamic Enterprise Solutions. (BearHall is the guy's name, http://www.desi-us.com/)
Milford Library put in a new phone system last year. From Technology Solutions , I think.
Also, I see that Katie Page, Technical Services Coordinator at Plymouth District Library, had posted a MichLib query re: RFP for phone system in January of 2015 - she may have garnered some info?
--- jude halloran, Highland Library
We're using some erate money to upgrade our system. We're going with s VOIP Shoetel (sp?) system.
Christine Lind Hage, Library Director
Rochester Hills Public Library
We are facing the same issue in Ferndale. Our phones are currently part of the city's digital system, but they are switching to a VOIP. We are exploring options in terms of getting our own independent system, joining the city's VOIP, or possibly joining the TLN VOIP when that becomes available. I did receive a quote from Mary Ellen of MBM Technology Solutions for a digital system. She can be reached at 248-597-1095. I would be happy to receive recommendations for any other vendors as well.
Good luck!
Jessica