Newsletter Article Nature of "In Skin" Voice Mail Systems
"Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of “in skin” voice processors is very important if you want to make the right recommendations. An in skin processor is one that resides within the telephone system (ex: Avaya Majix Mail, Toshiba Contact DK, Nortel Meridian Call Pilot 100, etc.) and offers some unique advantages: (1.) Low initial cost, (2.) good integration (3.) the customer thinks that it is an all in one system, (4.) uses a slot in the telephone system chassis but, doesn’t require a station card to connect too. These are the most prominent sales points when describing to a “What’s the bottom line?” buyer and also for the installation that is only going to be there for a short time.
The negatives are: Reduced functionality, fewer features, less expandability, no portability, and very high cost of ownership. Slide in card systems are by their very nature less functional. When they fail it will cost your customer 2/3 of the original purchase price to repair. There is no onsite repair of in-skin voice mail, it must be shipped back to the manufacturer for repair. Many customers will be unhappy with the average 2 to 3 week turn around for repairs, in which case be prepared to purchase an advanced replacement. In-skins will have to be reinstalled, database and all, same as any other new system installation. If the customer wants a maintenance contract on the switch, he will have to get it on the voice mail as well because it is in-skin. This is an advantage or disadvantage depending on how you look at it."
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