School rip-off

I need a rant.

About 18 months ago Lynx Networks quoted a local school for a Cisco Call Manager Express IP phone system. Being competitive, and the only company locally with the Cisco accreditation to deliver the solution, we fully expected to win the order. However, the main contractor gave the order to someone else and we heard nothing else until last week.

The school are not happy: When the second phase of the school was built they were told to buy a second Cisco Call Manager Express when the correct solution was to extend the original solution. The two systems are not connected so one side has to phone the operator on the other side to be put through.

Another problem: It's now going to take 2 weeks to configure a new handset even though the school has a service level agreement quoting a 4 hour response. The contract costs them £16K a year. This appears to be a case of a school being ripped off and exploited, and the expense being borne by the council tax payers.

They have now asked for our help so they are in safe hands and will get value for money.

Alan Bullen
Lynx Networks