[jeffdmg]

hello,
I have been looking at building an IVR solution for a single client. I have found
manufacturer after manufacturer to develop, build, host, support and maintain such systems. I know nothing about this industry (I've learned enough after dealing with sooo many companies but everyone is telling me different "facts"). I have received a variety of quotes. Here is what I am looking for:

A Clustered bank of Telephony servers plus Intel Web and Data servers running calls over 1344 ports hooked up to 2 DS3's colocated at a facility. This system will be backed by support and maintenance for 1 year and then on a per monthly basis as negotiated. The system will be able to make roughly 1,200,000 forty second calls in a 10 hour period of time. Last year we made about 26,000,000
phone calls. Most of those calls are done in October and November.

Some companies provide all inclusive packages where they will build the system, colocate it and arrange DS3 connection with aggressive Telco rates of less than .015 per minute of usage. One thing I've noticed is that there is a wide variances in quoted prices, monthly costs for the DS3's and per minute of usage costs as well.

Other companies will build the equipment and then they leave my company to figure out DS3 leases and Per minute of usage rates with the Telcos. I can't get a straight answer from anyone or am lead to believe something that may or may not be true. Hate to say it but I've dealt in both the automotive and political arenas and the Telco arena seems to be similar, if not worse.

I am looking for straight forward honesty. For instance, I've heard from one hardware reseller that if I add a Cisco PGW 2200 to the DS3 that I lease the cost of my usage is ZERO. In essence, I pay for Colocation, I pay for a DS3 and I pay upfront $35,000 for a PGW 2200 to my system and there are no per minute of usage costs. If so, are there any other costs? (TDM to IP to TDM or IP to TDM)

Furthermore, I've heard DS3 lines quoted from $250 per month up to $6000 per month. I need two. What is a reasonable rate to expect on a DS3?
Colo fees have been from $2100 per month to $8200 per month. Usage rates have ranged from .00 (using the mysterious Cisco PGW 2200) up to .03 per minute of usage?

So, here is the skinny: I need a dependable system built that can make 1.2 million calls in a 10 hour day. I need the manufacturer of this system to stand behind it via maintenance and support. I need a colo facility close to you. I need 2 DS3's with per minute rates that fall much closer to the zero than the .03. I'd like an answer on the PGW 2200 mystery. I need to know all the costs, including those hidden ones. And I need this entire package by mid September. What I offer is a client that will use about 15 to 25 million minutes per year. I'll provide a fair fee for maintenance and support and I have financial backing to get the job done starting immediately.

If this is something that you know ALL about, I'd like to talk to you.
Thanks,