Adtran today enters the IP-PBX market, offering a converged IP switch-router that it says will simplify the transition to Voice over IP.

The NetVanta 7100 is billed as an “office-in-a-box” solution that is up to 40% cheaper than existing PBXs used in combination with IP routers.

“This addresses total cost of ownership and ease of transition issues that will make it easier for small to mid-sized businesses and larger enterprises with a lot of smaller sites to make the move to VoIP,” said Tim Saunders, vice president of product management, ADTRAN Enterprise Networks Division.

Typically, VoIP deployment requires a PBX, an IP router and an Ethernet switch, said Paul Smelser, product manager for the NetVanta 7100. By incorporating routing and switching with the PBX, Adtran lowers the upfront costs and the operating costs, while reducing complexity, he said.

“The 7100 provides is all of that functionality with a very attractive price point,” he said. “Today the total cost up front is between $450 to $800 for voice products, and between $700 to $1000 per user for data products associated with VoIP. Our costs, incorporating a Polycom VoIP phone, are $545 per user.”

The NetVanta 7100 is a SIP-based PBX that supports up to 50 stations and includes voicemail and auto attendant. It comes with a 24-port Power over Ethernet switch, an IP Router, IPSec Virtual Private Network (VPN), stateful inspection firewall, and Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize voice traffic.

Adtran has taken the complexity out of managing VoIP by offering a graphical user interview that telecom or data managers can use to add or change station assignments, Smelser said.

The company is also providing free firmware upgrades and is not charging licensing fees for the software to support VoIP.

Adtran is working with Polycom to provide the necessary handsets, including an attendant console and a conference room phone alternative.