ACS Rel 8 - Desired features

[jlshelton]

It's too late to make our requests for ACS Rel 7, since we are expecting it in 2004. But perhaps we could recommend some improvements for the following release. Here are some thoughts.

Please add your own. Maybe Avaya will notice and listen.

We'd like improvements in:

* The User features
* The System features
* The Control Unit Hardware
* The phones
* documentation and other


For example:


USER FEATURES:
- Scrollable list of System Speed Dial numbers (perhaps with index) on display phones
(Competition: Merlin Magix has this feature)

- Directory of Last Number Dialed, for finding "previous" last numbers dialed
(Competition: GE cheap 4-line KSUless phones have this feature)

- Light to indicate which line will be selected when user goes off hook.
(Competition: Merlin, all series)

- Ability to program a button (with light) that monitors another extension's Voice Mail - if light lit, you press the button to login to the other person's voice mail. Useful for secretary/boss scenario, and others.

SYSTEM PROGRAMMING

- Larger dial plan to support (logically) more stations and lines.
(Competition: Merlin, but we don't really want people to upgrade to Merlin just for capacity. They should move if they need the advanced features of Merlin, and they should be prepared for the major changes.)

- Remote Admin Software able to modify multiple phones at once


CONTROL UNIT CHANGES

- Add thermal sensor to cards (perhaps in power supply board) that fires alarm - like the Low Battery alarm that exists now. Good feature for Avaya to minimize warranty claims.
(Competition: Many PC servers)

- Physical support for more cards (expansion chassis?) or more dense boards for lines/stations)
(Competition: Partner II)


TELEPHONE CHANGES

- Dedicated headset jack (2.5mm) with dedicated button
(Competition: Cheap GE, AT&T KSUless business phones, your cell phone, every cordless home phone, etc.)

- Adjustable side-tone to prevent complaints that "I can hear my own voice too loudly." Perhaps this just needs to be adjustable microphone sensitivity.

- Better button layout with more labeling space
(Competition: Merlin)

 

[drewmich]

Jinx,

A wINSPM type backup-convert-restore function would be helpful on the new R8 Remote Access Software.

If you ever run into the problem again with an old processor R1.1-R2-R3 etc that you need to recover/restore programming thru Backup card to your "newer" processor, let me know and we can help you.

Andrew Roach
President - Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent/Avaya Voice Mail-Component-Transtalk Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
269-685-5400 - voice
269-685-5500 - fax

 

[ic1ssbill]

With the addition of Partner T-1 module, would like to see a change that would allow the ability to assign pools (aux pools 881,882 etc to extention 10

 

[mrpeabody]

I would LOVE amphenol connectors on the cards instead of RJ-45's. This would prevent customers from swapping their own extensions, which messes the neat work that I did. Also, it would make the system more reliable because the downward tension on the RJ45's causes problems too.

 

[jlshelton]

Drop Button enhancement
Enhance the Conference Drop button to allow dropping any participant in a call, not just the last-added participant. System phone display would prompt: "Select line to be dropped" as a reminder.

 

[ptacc2637]

Maybe the capability to change DN numbering like in Norstar. The Hotel/Motel owners will benefit on this one for they would be able to match their room number. Another is the message light indicator, it would be nice if it will come on even if the message is from an external source.

 

[aussie88]

Phones
How about a Hot Dialpad like the Magix (Just start dialing, press pound, and the speaker automatically comes on).

And I would rather see Avaya steal the ring tones from the Definity, which has a more "refined" (if you will) version of the Classic Merlin ringtones.

Those new phones should have white backlights (Like my Nokia Cellphone) instead of the typical green backlights, white is easier to see, and it looks cool too.

And for the record, give the ability to position the phones at a higher incline (even in "Hgh" position the current phones just dont go high enough for me)

Features
No, "Busy Redial" features have not been cracked down on, cheap GE KSUless phones have it, I think the Partner should too.

Give the ability to swap between a Key mode, and a Hybrid/PBX mode like the Legend/Magix, for people like me who prefer a PBX configuration, and want features like ARS (Merlin 1030 had it a kajillion years ago, why cant Partner have it?)

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi aussie88,
The Partner DOES have hybrid / PBX mode. Password protected because it changes line assignments. ARS isn't that big a problem with LD rates dropping like a stone. Restrictions work pretty well (I use them a lot).
-Chris

 

[Dexman]

Improve the ringtones. Most of them sound too much alike.

 

[tryingmybest]

Like someone said, improve the phones so they can be set at a higher incline. Ringtones/types would be nice. I wouldn't like ringtones like cell phones use (music) but actually 'tones' that are more like a standard ring but with different patterns, pitches, sounds, etc. Also I agree with improving the labeling on them, too. Hard to read around the buttons and not much writing room right now. Oh, and add a third line to the display and make real, full-time soft keys for it that do various things.

 

[VoiceAmerica]

Create Flexible VMS Cover for Calling Groups, just like VMS Cover for CO Lines.

Provide ability for multiple appearance of an extension on other telephones.

Make system capacities larger. Many clients need the size BUT not the features or price of Merlin.

Program multiple telephones at once (block programming)

 

[jlshelton]

New feature: Auto Caller ID Inspect. When selected, if a user is off-hook and another line rings, the display shows "Line XX ring: YYY-YYY-YYYY" for the duration of the ringing.

This feature could use the same button as Call ID Inspect. When selected while phone is idle, Auto mode is engaged. When selected while phone is in use, normal inspect operation happens.

 

[twofeathers]

I would like to see dedicated Intercom Voice, Intercom Ring
buttons like the older Merlin II.

The ability to change ring time (co lines) before Voice Mail answers to more than 6 rings.

 

[aarenot]

How about secondary DN and phantom DN's appearances so a DN and phantom DN can ring on multiple exts. Also, phantom DN's, with phanton DN message waiting lights? so you can have a phantom MB and phantom DN with matching numbers, that has a visible DN button, and message light, and maybe press it to go to the VMbox for retrieving the message. All toshibas have this and have for years. Also, variable CF/cover/VMS cover service for different conditions, CF-B, CF-B/NA, CF-NA, CF-ALL, CF-VMS with variable CF destination to any MB, or DN/Phantom DN with variable VMS cover or not to DN forwarded MB or to other destination to then follow its CF/cover/vms cover.

I dont want much do I?

One last thing, ring over paging, night or day variable.

You know maybe some of this can be done and I am just ignorant.

 

[DWLaurie]

I believe jlshelton means LAN-based SMDR logging [Station Messaging Detail Report] not LAN-based SMTP logging [Simple Mail Transport Protocol]

SMTP is LAN-based, currently SMDR is Serial-based.

--Dan

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi,
There are very clever devices made that will give a serial port an iP address for about $150 CDN. You don't have to wait!
-Chris