Adtran NetVanta 7100 launches

The Adtran NetVanta 7100 "all in one" converged IP-PBX launches Monday targetting the SMB market with a maximum of up to 50 IP phones supported. The Adtran NetVanta 7100 is a 24-port 10/100 PoE switch (802.3af), with 802.1Q VLANs and 802.1p Class of Service system, featuring built-in IP-PBX functionality, voicemail (CompactFlash memory), SIP gateway, IP router, Gigabit uplinks, Power of Ethernet (PoE) ports, Firewall, VPN, and DSU/CSU.

Without a doubt the Adran NetVanta 7100 is the most converged "one box" IP-PBX solution I have come across with its ability to simply "plop" the unit into a business office, terminate the T1 voice trunk lines, terminate the IP extensions, and perform all the voice & data routing with full security..The NetVantage 7100 is aimed at the SMB market and addresses Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and ease of use that plagues other IP-PBX deployments.

The NetVanta 7100 was built on the same Adtran operating system that enabled the NetVanta 1224R series to combine switch, router, firewall, VPN, POE capabilities on a single platform. Essentially, Adtran added a SIP-based IP-PBX with voicemail, autoattendant and SIP gateway to the NetVanta 1224R to create the 7100. The Adtran NetVanta 7100 provides full 15.4W of Power Over Ethernet power to all 24 ports without any power budgeting required. Thus, you can connect power hungry WiFi access points or other power hungry devices without any power budgeting requirements. Adtran is OEMing the Polycom family of IP phones to be able to provide a 100% turnkey solution.

Disclaimer: This is Adtran's Magic Quadrant chart showing their market positioning. Since this is not from an unbiasted third-party, this chart is for informational purposes only.



For a typical 24-user configuration the Adtran NetVanta totals out to about $545/station and it includes all the aforementioned functionality plus it includes a Polycom 5101 phone. According to Adtran they calculated that an equivalent competing solution that includes voicemail, auto-attendant, security, the IP Phone, and all the other aforementioned functionality would require disprate systems equating to around $700-$1000 per user for a 24-user configuration. Not only is this more expensive, but having disparate systems increases the TCO.

It is also worth mentioning that with the NetVanta 7100 there are no software licenses or voicemail licenses so if you grow your business and add more hires, you can simply purchase a new IP phone, plug it in and it will work. The voicemail uses a CF memory card with up to 12hrs of voicemail storage that is upgradeable simply by installing a larger CF memory card.

They include two analog trunks for hooking up fax machines and other analog devices as well as two analog extrensions for emergency backup. Available trunk interfaces include analog, T1, and PRI, and even ADSL.

A unique built-in feature is a door relay switch. For instance, if FEDEX arrives at your office you can simply dial a code on your phone to close the relay to open the door. Some other features include caller ID name/number, classes of service, trunk groups, music-on-hold, overhead paging, and a number of call options including call coverage lists, forwarding of calls to a cell phone, and e-mail notification of voicemail. The system includes VPN private tunnel encryption (DES, 3DES, AES) enabling telecommuter or branch office locations to securely access the same telephony and data features available at the headquarters location. Also included is a stateful inspection firewall, IP router including DHCP client/server, multiple routing protocols and Layer 3 Quality of Service (QoS).

An important technical feature is that the NetVanta 7100 has a TDM backplane as well as an IP backplace that enables it to keep analog signals on the TDM backplane without any conversion. That is, the Adtran 7100 doesn't need to packetize analog signals into the IP backplane as some IP-PBXs do -- or some IP-PBXs require the use of Analog Terminal Adaptors (ATAs). Thus, faxes and modems connect at their full connection speed and there aren't any complications typical with digital-to-analog conversion.

All in all, the Adtran NetVanta 7100 just might be the most turnkey "plug in play" IP-PBX platform I have ever come across. The SMB market now has no excuses when they claim VoIP is too complex to use, install, or manage. Well done Adtran... well done...

List Price for the Adtran NetVantage 7100 is $5195