Use of Cell Phones within Retail Store

[hot_dog_relish]

Our 2-story retail store has been using an old Nortel system, which no
longer supports its mobile telephones. Repairs have become almost
impossible.

My suggestion to the management was to replace the Nortel mobile
telephones with off-the-shelf cell phones.

Using our old system, an outside call can be made to the department's
extension by dialing the store and then the extension.

My idea was to program the cell phones to the store's outside number
and the department code.

Our manager likes the idea, but suggests that (1) it would tie up
outside calls, and (2) the concrete in the structure limits the use of
cell phones within the store.

I only have the idea. And, I am hoping that members of this group
might suggest that it is feasible/unfeasible.

If it is, indeed, feasible, would you suggest what I should be looking
for? Can a router within the store eliminate "dead zones" we have
found? What can be done, if needed, to ensure that our home customers
still have active access to the store?

Obviously, I'm a green-horn at this. I sure would appreciate any
help.

Thanks

Earl Sande
Surrey, BC, Canada

[John L]

Post by hot_dog_relish
Using our old system, an outside call can be made to the department's
extension by dialing the store and then the extension.
My idea was to program the cell phones to the store's outside number
and the department code.

Uh, no. Mobile phones and cordless phones are not at all the same
thing, and you can't run mobile phones from a PBX. Also, if you have
poor cell coverage within the store, repeaters are not cheap.

Honestly, it sounds like you need a new PBX. There's all sorts of
options, and PBXes are a lot smaller and cheaper than they used to be.
Assuming your store wiring is in OK shape, it would probably be
possible to do a "forklift upgrade" replacing the PBX and the phones
but reusing the wiring.

[Reed]

Post by hot_dog_relish
Our 2-story retail store has been using an old Nortel system, which no
longer supports its mobile telephones. Repairs have become almost
impossible.
My suggestion to the management was to replace the Nortel mobile
telephones with off-the-shelf cell phones.
Using our old system, an outside call can be made to the department's
extension by dialing the store and then the extension.
My idea was to program the cell phones to the store's outside number
and the department code.
Our manager likes the idea, but suggests that (1) it would tie up
outside calls, and (2) the concrete in the structure limits the use of
cell phones within the store.
I only have the idea. And, I am hoping that members of this group
might suggest that it is feasible/unfeasible.
If it is, indeed, feasible, would you suggest what I should be looking
for? Can a router within the store eliminate "dead zones" we have
found? What can be done, if needed, to ensure that our home customers
still have active access to the store?
Obviously, I'm a green-horn at this. I sure would appreciate any
help.
Thanks
Earl Sande
Surrey, BC, Canada

You might consider a third-party vendor of wireless PBX extensions such as
http://www.spectralink.com/products/linkwts/index.jsp

[Hank Karl]

On Wed, 6 Feb 2008 20:53:06 -0800 (PST), hot_dog_relish

Post by hot_dog_relish
Our 2-story retail store has been using an old Nortel system, which no
longer supports its mobile telephones. Repairs have become almost
impossible.
My suggestion to the management was to replace the Nortel mobile
telephones with off-the-shelf cell phones.
Using our old system, an outside call can be made to the department's
extension by dialing the store and then the extension.
My idea was to program the cell phones to the store's outside number
and the department code.
Our manager likes the idea, but suggests that (1) it would tie up
outside calls, and (2) the concrete in the structure limits the use of
cell phones within the store.
I only have the idea. And, I am hoping that members of this group
might suggest that it is feasible/unfeasible.
If it is, indeed, feasible, would you suggest what I should be looking
for? Can a router within the store eliminate "dead zones" we have
found? What can be done, if needed, to ensure that our home customers
still have active access to the store?
Obviously, I'm a green-horn at this. I sure would appreciate any
help.
Thanks
Earl Sande
Surrey, BC, Canada

How about replacing it with an IP PBX, put in some WiFi nodes, and use
VoIP over WiFi?

------------------------
Hank Karl Eastern Regional Manager
Contact me at http://www.nine-9s.com/contact.htm -- use the eastern region adress


Representing:
http://www.telesoft-intl.com/ CompactSIP, ISDN, T1 RBS, E1 R2 CAS, Frame Relay, ML-PPP, X.25, ...
http://www.agoralabs.com/ elemedia(tm) H.323, Video Codecs, and Audio Codecs