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Vertical Communications Unveils MBX IP for Growing SMBs

TMCnews Featured Article


February 08, 2011

Vertical Communications Unveils MBX IP for Growing SMBs

By Sandra M. Gustavsen, Analyst, Business VoIP


Takeaway: Vertical reaches out to growing small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with the new MBX IP, a converged TDM/IP system that scales from 50 to 324 extensions (target is 200 extensions). MBX IP is positioned as the “going forward system” for businesses currently deploying the Vertical SBX IP Key system introduced in 2008 or for customers with a legacy key system from Comdial or Vodavi, two companies previously acquired by Vertical. MBX IP supports a range of new and legacy telephones, including the earlier Vodavi and Comdial digital phones, as well as the SBX IP digital and VoIP telephones. MBX IP has some functionality over and above the SBX IP such as voicemail to e-mail notification with WAV file attachments, an ACD capability with support for multiple supervisors and Web-based reporting and built-in VoIP channels. A roadmap for 2011 includes important enhancements for SMBs such as a UC Application for presence, instant messaging and video, an IP DECT (News - Alert) system and a hospitality application. Read more below.


Vertical Communications began rolling out the new MBX IP system to dealers in December 2010, with general availability as of Jan. 4, 2011. MBX IP is positioned as a migration path for large key system needs and is a good fit for growing businesses that currently deploy the Vertical SBX IP key system or a legacy key system from Comdial or Vodavi, two companies previously acquired by Vertical. The new MBX IP supports Vertical, Vodavi and Comdial phones, as well as Vertical’s SBX IP VoIP phones. System capacity scales from 50 to 414 ports and up to 324 extensions and provides the next step up from the 48-extension SBX IP. Vertical also sells the WAVE (News - Alert) IP communications system which is similar to MBX IP in terms of capacity, but is recommended for all-IP deployments or for businesses that need for more robust contact center, networking and management.

MBX IP has a 19-inch rack-mount form factor and a higher-end processor suitable for future growth. Two processor boards are available for varying capacity needs. The MPB-100 supports up to 200 ports and 120 extensions, using one or two cabinets, while the MPB-300 supports up to the maximum 414 ports and 324 extensions, using one, two or three cabinets. The 8-port voicemail board has the same SBX Release 3.5 feature set, but adds support for WAV file attachments when sending voicemail notifications to e-mail. Up to two voicemail boards are allowed per the MPB-100 processor or three boards per MPB-300. The cabinetry and circuit cards are common to both processor boards, so only the processor card needs to be changed in order to upgrade.

MBX IP has some additional functionality over and above the SBX IP. For example, the tenant service capability is more robust with support for nine (9) partitions compared to five (5) on the SBX IP. MBX IP has more “onboard” or built-in functionality, namely four built-in VoIP channels and an ACD capability with support for multiple supervisors and Web-based reporting. MPB-100 supports 20 groups with 50 agents per group, while MPB-200 supports 50 groups with 50 agents per group. Users will also benefit from a voicemail-to-e-mail capability that sends voicemail to e-mail with attached WAV file (SBX does not support WAV files and only notifies the user that there is a voicemail message waiting).

Notable features include remote Web administration using a Microsoft (News - Alert) Internet Explorer browser (TUI programming is also possible), and users can access a Web interface to change telephone settings. Up to 72 MBX IP or SBX IP systems can be networked via IP (license activation) with feature transparency that includes Busy Lamp Field, Caller ID, Do Not Disturb, Message Waiting Indication, Text Messaging, Centralized Voicemail and Auto Attendant, SMDR, Follow Me and more. Users can also take advantage of several productivity applications such as the Nomad IP softphone (two licenses are free), the EZ phone soft client (desktop CTI (News - Alert)) and a new Windows PC attendant (up to five attendants per system).

MBX IP supports a range of new and legacy telephones, including the earlier Vodavi and Comdial digital phones, as well as the SBX IP digital and VoIP telephones, so that customers can incorporate IP phones as needed. At the initial release, MBX IP supports the following digital phones: SBX IP Digital 40xx (8/24/DSS), STS Digital 35xx (24/DSS), Ranger/DECT Cordless, Digital doorbox, XTS IP Digital 30xx (8/30/DSS), Infinite/Triad 90xx/TR90xx (8/12/24), Edge 700 VW-E700 (8/24/DSS). IP phones include the new Vertical Edge 8012 or 8024 IP Phone, the earlier 7008 and 7024 IP Phones (also branded as 38xx IP), the NomadSP softphone and the NomadIP WiFi (News - Alert) phone. Vertical will add support for additional legacy phones in 2011, namely Comdial DTIB (12p), 80xx/83xx/Edge 100 and DSS consoles, as well as new IP DECT handsets and NomadIP+, the next generation WiFi phone.

Vertical has already outlined a 2011 roadmap which includes quarterly improvements for MBX IP. Perhaps most notable is the forthcoming Compact UC Application for SMBs which will enable Instant Messaging, presence and 6-party video conferencing with multimedia conferencing for file sharing and white boarding. An IP DECT system and a hospitality package with PMS (from third party Fidelio) are also anticipated.

Availability/Compatibility: Vertical’s MBX IP is generally available as of Jan. 4, 2011 in North America. MBX IP is positioned as a migration path for large key system needs and is a good fit for growing businesses that currently deploy the Vertical SBX IP key system or a legacy key system from Comdial or Vodavi. The following phones are compatible with MBX IP: SBX IP Digital 40xx (8/24/DSS), STS Digital 35xx (24/DSS), Ranger/DECT Cordless, Digital doorbox, XTS IP Digital 30xx (8/30/DSS), Infinite/Triad 90xx/TR90xx (8/12/24), Edge 700 VW-E700 (8/24/DSS), Edge 8012/8024 IP Phones, 7008 and 7024 IP Phones (38xx), NomadSP and NomadIP. Vertical will add support for additional legacy models in 2011, namely Comdial DTIB (12p), 80xx/83xx/Edge 100 (and DSS consoles). MBX IP comes with a 5-year warranty on all components.


Sandra M. Gustavsen, business VoIP analyst, contributes her Business VoIP column to TMCnet. To read more of Sandra�s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Tammy Wolf







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