advantages

Easy Purchase	The Inter-Tel 3000 starter package will save you hundreds of dollars over the cost of buying the items separately, and includes programming software, a programming cable and manuals, which are extra-cost items with other phone systems. Shipping is FREE in the USA, and tech support is both FREE and unlimited.
Easy Installation	Circuit modules are plug-in pods that are easily installed without disassembling the central control unit. You never have to deal with tiny chips or fragile printed circuit boards or confusing connectors. Nothing can go in the wrong place or be installed in the wrong way. All wiring connects to simple "modular" jacks, like home phones. No special tools or training are required.
Easy Expansion:	Your system's capacity can easily increase from 2 lines and 8 phones up to 20 lines and 40 phones (52 if you use IP phones). No parts are thrown away, traded-in, or sold on Ebay when you need to grow. Feature modules and expansion modules are "hot-swappable" -- you can insert or remove them without shutting down the system. The system will automatically recognize the new modules you install.
Easy Programming	You can program your Inter-Tel 3000 with a PC plugged directly into the system with FREE, easy-to-use Windows software (cable is included), or program remotely with a PC through the unit's built-in modem. You can also program from a phone; and the system will even work without programming.
Easy Operation	The large LCD display panel makes it extremely easy to navigate through the Inter-Tel 3000 to activate the functions and features you need without having to constantly refer to instruction manuals. The "soft key" buttons around the display are context-sensitive, with clearly-marked functions that change depending on what you are trying to do. If you make a wrong choice, you'll get an error message on the screen. If you have a voicemail module installed, you'll also be told what you did wrong.
Easy Voicemail	Voicemail is provided by a compact pod that plugs into the main control unit. It can't be installed incorrectly. There's no additional box to hang on the wall, no new cables to install, no new software to buy, and no hard drive to crash. Choose from three models, with 2 ports and 5 hours recording time, 4 ports and 10 hours recording time, or 8 ports and 20 hours recording time.
Easy  Headset  Use	A convenient built-in headset jack on the digital phones allows you to easily connect a headset for high quality hands-free conversations, without having to use a separate switchbox. You'll save desktop space, about $100, and some button pushing.
Universal Connections	All phone jacks are "hybrid ports" that can be used with analog or digital phones, single-line or multi-line phones, corded or cordless phones, as well as fax machines, modems, answerers conference speakerphones or other telecom gadgets. You don't have to buy new circuit boards or make programming changes when you want to plug something in.
Freebie Features	Many items that are extra-cost options with other phone systems are included with the Inter-Tel 3000. You don't have pay an extra penny for Windows software, a programming cable, manuals, a modem for remote programming, music-on-hold, wall-mount brackets, door lock control, or Caller ID (even to single-line phones). And when you buy from AbleComm, shipping is FREE to anywhere in the USA, and support from our certified tech staff is FREE and unlimited.
Courtesy Service makes a small business seem big, and makes callers feel better.	This built-in FREE feature seems like Automatic Call Distribution found on costly corporate phone systems. Callers who are not answered within a Programmed time receive a message telling them that their call will be answered and asks them to wait. A voicemail module is not required to provide this feature. While the message is being played, the phones continue to ring. If the call is not answered, and voicemail is not installed, the caller will hear music and will be disconnected after three minutes. If voicemail is installed, the caller is transferred to the System Voicemail box after three minutes of music.
Tri-lingual Displays	Out-of-the-box, displays on the Inter-Tel 3000 digital phones use the English language. You can easily re-program one, some, or all of your phones to show Spanish or French instructions to make the phones easier to use for employees or family members.

Disadvantages

The Inter-Tel 3000 is a wonderful phone system with many important advantages over other systems. But -- like anything you can buy -- it has a few minor disadvantages. Maybe some of them will matter to you, and maybe none will matter to you; and some apparent disadvantages might actually turn out to be advantages. We want you to know now, so you can decide if the Inter-Tel 3000 is right for you, and so you won't be surprised later.

Phone  Width	The digital "system" phones are about two inches wider than many system phones from other companies. But, they're about the same width as most Nortel phones, and the base phones used with Panasonic, ATT and RCA cordless systems. Because of the built-in headset jack, the Inter-Tel phone takes up less horizontal space than a narrower phone equipped with a separate headset switchbox.
One Door Intercom	The system is designed to use just one door intercom speaker and one remote door release (door strike). But, if you need more than one speaker or release, we have some good alternatives that connect to CO line ports.
No Dedicated Door Circuit	The door intercom speaker uses a circuit that could be used for a phone. But, you don't have to spend $150 to buy a door intercom circuit board, or dis-assemble the control unit to install the circuit board.
No Dedicated Paging Circuit	The paging amplifier connection uses a circuit that could be used for a phone. But, this design allows you to use two-way paging systems that would not work with a dedicated paging connection.
No Dedicated Music Circuit	External music-on-hold uses a circuit that could be used for a phone. But, you can use the internal music-on-hold, and not sacrifice any phone capacity, or have to pay for any more equipment or music.
Transformer for Display Light	In order to light up the display, you need to plug a transformer into an electrical outlet. But, this is probably not a big deal, except for a wall-mounted phone; and we have a neat solution for that, too.
Door Intercom Style	You might not like the way the door speaker looks on a colonial house. But it's probably OK for a business, and it would look just fine on a Borg cube.
	Cube photo from StarTrek.com. Resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated.