Who we are

OER Group is a leading independently owned supplier of office equipment solutions including digital and analogue telephone systems from manufacturers such as Panasonic & Siemens on a cash or lease basis. We have been in business now for years and have offices across the UK. To further increase our rapid rate of expansion we launched our business format franchise in January 2004 and have plans to grow to 65 sites in England by 2006. By growing through franchising we can deliver the highest standards of technical support and customer service to all our customers whether they purchase a phone system, lease a telephone system or lease or buy and other product in our extensive office equipment portfolio.

The telephone system & telecommunications marketplace

Over the last two decades, The UK has been one of the leading proponents in opening up its telecommunications market to increased competition. This has resulted in a move against the dominance of the incumbent operator BT, and it has meant the entry of hundreds of new competitors in the provision of telecommunications services and equipment. The 1998 European Union directive on telecommunications created a new framework for telecoms across Europe , encouraging competition and ending telephone service monopolies in other EU countries.... The UK is therefore part of an open and competitive European telecommunications marketplace.

The latest Oftel report on the UK telecommunications market (2000/01) estimates the total market (including voice telephony, inland and international calls, private leased circuits, mobile telephony and other activities) to be worth £41.4 billion. It is estimated the BT group has a 49% market share of the market, worth around £20.4 billion.

The UK Government passed the Communications Act in July 2003 which paves the way for a further increase in the growth of competition in the telecommunications industry. What was previously a licence based system has now become a "general conditions of entitlement" regime. This constitutes a set of rules that operators are obliged to comply with, and it removes the requirement for companies to obtain a licence to operate. This represents a major deregulatory step, which in turn encourages a more competitive environment for telecommunications(source oftel 2003)

What is Least Cost Routing(LCR)

Least Cost Routing (LCR) is a method of automatically selecting the least costly facility for transmission of a call. Synonyms include: Most Economical Route Selection (MERS); Automatic Route Selection; Flexible Route Selection.

In countries where the telephone system has been deregulated it is possible for subscribers to choose the carrier they want to use for long distance calls. The chose of carrier is based on cost of calls and the quality of lines offered. The subscriber opens an account with the carrier who will provide an access code. The subscriber will dial this access code before dialing the telephone number they wish to call. The carrier market is very competitive and it possible to save serious money by careful chose of carrier. Normally the subscriber does not have to change his telephone line to be able to access cheap long distance calls. Many companies use special hardware in conjunction with their PBX equipment to Least Cost Route calls by the cheapest carrier. Least Cost Routing is a PCX option.

Method for automatic selection of the least costly facility for transmission of a call. Synonyms: Most Economical Route Selection (MERS); Route Optimization; Automatic Route Selection; Flexible Route Selection.

LCR means routing your calls over an alternative carrier instead of B.T. In many cases this reduces the cost of your telephone calls (hence least cost).

OER Group telephone systems can offer you the more cost effective solution to keep your telephone overhead costs as low as possible.

What is Voice Over IP(VOIP)

A voice message delivered using the Internet Protocol. It is a term used in IP telephony for a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol. In general, this means sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

This could allow your company to make enormous savings on telecomms costs by sending voice traffic anywhere around the world via your internet connection.

This practice of using an Internet connection to pass voice data using IP instead of using the standard public switched telephone network can allow a remote worker, for instance, to function as if directly connected to a PBX even while at home or in a remote office. In bypassing the public network, it also avoids standard long distance charges, as the only connection is through an ISP. VoIP is being used more and more to keep corporate telephone costs down.

Your local OER Group branch will be able to give you advice on the practical applications of VOIP

What small business phone systems do we supply

OER Group supply a huge range of telephone systems products but mainly supplies Panasonic telephone systems or PABX. Panasonic & Siemens phone systems in our opinion deliver superior quality and functionality and represent excellent value for money. As detailed below we can supply Panasonic & Siemens phone systems on a lease basis or a cash purchase. For full details of the entire range of telephone systems please see the section below "Panasonic small business telephone systems"

Panasonic small business telephone systems

Panasonic Analogue Telephone Systems

Panasonic KXT206E

Hybrid Telephone System - Up to 6 Extensions - Ideal phone system for small businesses without the need for digital feaures. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic KXTA624E

Advanced Hybrid Telephone System - Up to 24 Extensions - Ideal phone system for larger businesses that have basic telephony requirements. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic Digital Telephone Systems

Panasonic KXTDA15

Hybrid IP PBX System - Up to 20 extensions - Ideal for smaller businesses. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic KXTDA30

Hybrid IP PBX System - Up to 28 extensions- Ideal small business telephone system. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic KXTDA100

Hybrid IP PBX System- Up to 64 Extensions- Ideal small business telephone system. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic KXTDA200

Hybrid IP PBX System - Up to 128 Extensions- Ideal phone system for larger businesses. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic KXTD816E

Digital Super Hybrid System - Up to 32 Extensions. Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Panasonic KXTD1232E

Digital Super Hybid System - Up to 128 Extensions . Buy, lease or rental available(subject to status)

Leasing telephone systems v buying a phone system cash

To lease a telephone system or not to lease a phone system? Everyones circumstances are different but to lease a small business phone system is very popular and most OER Group customers generally decide that phone systems leasing is right for their business. That said contact your financial adviser to discuss how best to acquire equipment but in the meantime please find as follows some advantages and disadvantages of leasing your business phone system.

Some Advantages to Lease a Telephone Systems:

(a) Costs for the phone system are certain and are known in advance;
(b) The phone system cannot be withdrawn once the contract is signed and its conditions complied with;
(c) No need to tie up capital in fixed assets such as a telephone system;
(d) Allowances, depreciation and other calculations are not needed, since leasing is concerned only with rentals;
(e) Leasing provides a medium-term source of capital which may not be available elsewhere;
(f) Leasing provides a hedge against inflation as the use of the asset is obtained immediately - payments are made out of future funds and are made in fixed money terms, with real costs falling as inflation increases.
(g) possibility of immediate acquisition of cost -saving phone system equipment

Some Disadvantages of Leasing telephone systems:

1. It is generally not possible to dispose of the phone system before the end of the lease.
2. The telephone system is not owned.
3. Funds must be found to pay the lease throughout its duration.

Should you decide to lease a phone system then OER Group provides extremely competitive leasing rates from major lenders such as BNP Paribas, CF Asset and Bank of Scotland.

Telephone systems installation and phone system maintenance

OER Group provides complete telephone system installation and after sales technical support on all small business phone systems that are supplied. Phone system service contracts are separate agreements and whether you lease a telephone system or decide to buy a phone system outright from us you can be assured of the highest levels of on site telephone system technical support will be provided to protect your investment.

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