Palmetto Dunes, a large private residence and golf resort on Hilton Head Island, S. C., is transitioning ownership from the original developer to the property owners. As part of this transition, the Palmetto Dunes Property Owners Association wanted to upgrade their phone systems in the new administrative office building as well as in their security building.

The business case showed that they currently pay about $25,000 each year for about 20 low-functionality phones and central office telephone service. Working with Bird's the Word Technology, they built a business case that showed they could purchase two new, hybrid-VoIP phone systems, upgrade all phones to high function digital phones and connect the two offices via VoIP for the same yearly cost. Then after 2.5 years, they would break-even on the purchase of the systems and save about $6,000 a year.

The Board of Directors made the decision to release a Request for Proposal. Bird's the Word Technology's Asterisk- based system won the bid with the highest functionality and the lowest price. The administrative offices were installed in September. They are extremely impressed with the phone system and their much increased user functionality. They also are really pleased with Bird's the Word Technology's service and support. "It's not often you can get more; save money and have a pleasant customer satisfaction experience" said Mr. Bob Sharp, General Manager of Palmetto Dunes Resort.