NEC SV8100 Review
As one of the largest global suppliers in business telecommunications, buying your phone system from NEC is a safe bet.
They make everything you will need, from full enterprise telecommunications systems right down to individual phone handsets.
NEC invests over £2 billion in research and development every year
NEC’s SV8100 is a scalable Unified Communications solution designed to meet the needs of small to medium-sized businesses.
The NEC SV8100 allows you to implement the latest VoIP technology and provides you with the technology necessary for advanced communication.
The NEC SV8100 has an extensive feature range, but it also has development capabilities, you can customise your system to your business.
XML Open Interface Support allows your developer to build displayable and accessible applications useful to your business.
With many options available, its hard for start-ups and Small businesses to find the right unified communications solution.
Here we break down the features, and technical terms in this extensive guide compiled just for you with prices, information, and comparisons:
NEC SV8100 average costs and fees.
You can choose between a range of different packages when buying an NEC SV8100. The differences come down to:
- How many users you need to support and therefore how many stations you will need
- whether you want the smaller three slot 9.5-inch chassis or a larger six slot standard chassis. The standard chassis is suitable for larger companies or those that expect to expand but takes up more space.
PACKAGE |
INCLUSIONS |
SMRP |
SV8100 BASIC PACKAGE |
|
$997.50 |
SV8100 32 IP PACKAGE |
|
$1,350.00 |
SV8100 64 IP PACKAGE |
|
$2,250.00 |
SV8100 128 IP PACKAGE |
|
$3,250.00 |
SV8100 9.5 BASIC PACKAGE |
|
$900.00 |
SV8100 9.5 32IP PACKAGE |
|
$1,100.00 |
SV8100 9.5 64IP PACKAGE |
|
$2,000.00 |
SV8100 9.5 128IP PACKAGE |
|
$3,000.00 |
NEC SV8100 core features
At its core, the NEC SV8100 is a call management system that brings all of your communications channels together through Unified Communications (UC).
Here is what the NEC SV8100 can do:
Call management
The Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) function distributes incoming calls according to your instructions, so your customer’s calls are always answered.
The PC attendant visually shows you who in your team is on the phone and who is available and allows you to push calls to the right people from your computer, an excellent tool for call centre supervisors.
Customisable
XML Open Interface Support means that you can build your apps for your system using Univerge.
You can use this to display your logo on your phones and create reservation or information tools, especially useful for hotels and restaurants.
Unified Communications
Links your different communication channels together, for example, you can have your voicemail messages sent through to you in an email.
You also get an instant messaging system so that your team can keep in touch with each other easily.
Compatibility
This system supports both IP and analogue trunks so that you can use SIP trunking and probably use any existing infrastructure that you have.
The system is compatible with ISDN, TAPI and your current PBX if you have one.
Connects to a wide range of phones
Including, Bluetooth cordless handsets, cordless phones, IP DECT wireless handsets, Wi-Fi handsets and mobile phone extensions.
If you decide that you need a slightly bigger system, then take a look at NEC’s newer SV9100.
It is similar to the SV8100 as they are built on the same technology.
However NEC has scaled up the SV9100 system to accommodate up to 800 users, and it can run audio and video conferencing.
This newer offering will cost you a little more, so if the SV8100 sounds like it suits your needs, then it will be a safe bet at an affordable price.
Customer support and sales
NEC offers support to help you find the right solution for your needs but mostly sells through approved partners and distributors.
NEC has 16 partners spread across the UK so that you can work with the one closest to you.
The UK is NEC’s base in Europe, so you are assured excellent sales and customer service support.
NEC’s customer support centre in the UK is located in Middlesex and can be contacted via telephone (during office hours) or email.
Customer Reputation
The NEC SV8100 has excellent customer reviews, NEC reports that it has the highest level of customer satisfaction among Unified Communications vendors.
Users say the SV8100 Unified Communications solution is reliable and scalable for small to medium businesses.
Current users say that the SV8100 shines when it is used with a VoIP system, but it is helpful that it has the flexibility also to incorporate analogue lines.
Additionally, this feature-rich UC platform makes it easy to access the features through your PC.
On the downside, most customers mentioned that this is a complex system that requires third party setup and support.
Therefore if you choose to go with the NEC SV8100, it might be in your best interest to get an installation and maintenance contract from your supplier.
Comparing the NEC SV8100
How does the SV8100 stack up against the other systems you are considering?
Here it is compared against the Avaya IP Office and the NEC SV9100.
NEC SV8100 |
Avaya IP Office |
NEC SV9100 |
|
Scalability |
512 users per single control unit Expansion chassis Up to 16 systems – No increase in capacity across sites |
1000 users per single control unit Single Hybrid IPO Small Community Network – 1,000 users across 32 sites |
1,296 users but requires Multiple chassis units – No increase in capacity across sites |
BYOD |
Requires third-party Varaha client/server No teleworker mode |
Allows workers to BYOD– iOS, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Android, BlackBerry devices Avaya Flare Communicator for iPads Supports teleworker mode with license (4 seats) |
Allows workers to BYOD – iOS, Windows Mobile, Android Phone linking means all of an employees phones (desk and mobile) can ring at once so they can pick up calls wherever they are while giving customers a single number |
Value |
Voicemail at additional cost Required add-on hardware for IM, IVR, Call recording, multi-party video conferencing etc. 32-party conference call NEC InUCB blade app bundle |
Built-in Voicemail License-activated functionality: voicemail, unified messaging, IVR, call recording, meet-me and video, presence, IM and mobility 64-party conference call |
SV8100 features plus: new video and audio conferencing facility, screen sharing |
Telephones |
Compatible with five desk phones Needs adapter to be compatible with Gigabit Supports analogue and 3rd party SIP phones |
Compatible with 20 desk phones With Gigabit |
Compatible with newer mode NEC desk phones, including voice over WLAN and IP and Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telephone (DECT) mobile handsets. |
Desktop Integration |
Desktop Suite for PC-based management UC for Business applications No Web browser access 2-party video conferencing *Requires internal server blade |
Avaya one-X Portal Web access from any location Plug-ins for Microsoft Outlook Plug-ins for Salesforce.com 6-party video conferencing |
Desktop suite gives you access to user presence, instant messaging, whiteboarding, application sharing, a multimedia softphone, and your UC client. Integration with Microsoft Outlook and CRM applications |
Messaging |
Paid Voicemail Two card options: InMail daughterboard or UM8000 |
2 free ports, expansion to 6Free Voicemail Voicemail-to-email Server-based messaging |
Integrated voice messaging capabilities and automated attendant features |
Who should use the NEC SV8100?
Is the NEC SV8100 ticking the boxes for you? If you still aren’t sure if this is the right system for you, here is a bit of a summary.
NEC has designed this Unified Communications solution to suit the needs of small to medium businesses and is designed to grow with you.
You can start with a single chassis for just a few users, and your system can develop to support a team of up to 500.
If you think you will expand beyond this number in the next few years, then you will need to choose a bigger system, like the SV9100.
Whether you are running a call centre, hotel or a busy office, the NEC SV8100 is flexible enough to support your needs through customisation.
This system ticks all the boxes but doesn’t have all the cutting-edge bells and whistles.
Final verdict
The NEC SV8100 is scalable, and an excellent fit for small businesses.
It provides a feature-rich unified communications solution with a wide range of packages to match your business needs.
If you choose this system, you will want some support for installation.
However, once your system is up and running, you should have no problems with this reliable unit.
This affordable choice will cover all of your bases, so you can get on with running your successful business.