Howdy! Wondering if any manufacturer produces a line of DIGITAL phone systems comparable to the quality of the discontinued Nortar CICS/MICS product line. I know Toshiba has the Strata line, NEC makes the DSX line, and ESI makes a digital-hybrid line of small office phone systems. But are any of these comparable to the quality of the old Norstar MICS/CICS line of phone systems? Yes, I know VOIP is the new standard, but what is the best option as far as digital phone systems are concerned that aren't EOS.
Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations TouchToneTommy on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Anyone manufacture a digital phone system comparable in quality to Norstar line (CICS/MICS)?
- Thread starter Bulldog81
- Start date
Splic3d
Vendor
- Dec 28, 2012
- 499
I can only say that my experience is limited to the NEC, and they also have the capacity for viop as well. They have been rock solid as far as use and reliability. E-Metro Tel is reusing the TDM sets for BCM and Norstar. They are young but are continuing to empress me with their support and ever improving on the quality of their product. All communication companies are and must tie into the Voip market. I don't believe there is going to be any company as strong as Nortel was however, so at this point I believe the market is still wide open.
If its not working, get a bigger hammer!
Avaya/Nortel/NEC/Asterisk/Access Control/CCTV/DSX/Acti/UCx
If its not working, get a bigger hammer!
Avaya/Nortel/NEC/Asterisk/Access Control/CCTV/DSX/Acti/UCx
GordonKapesMZ4
Programmer
I am of course partial to the UCx from Emetrotel as well. You can keep the phones you have and then they will provide the rest.
Toshiba DK strata seems like a popular system as well. Panasonic is also still quite a popular digital system.
If your business is big enough, I would consider a small Nortel CS1000, it's one of the PBXs that still offers an all TDM digital architecture.
There are secondary market companies out there that will also support and maintain your existing Norstar system for many years to come. You could potentially keep the system for up to another 8 years. You could have the vendor clean and relabel all of the handsets.
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
Toshiba DK strata seems like a popular system as well. Panasonic is also still quite a popular digital system.
If your business is big enough, I would consider a small Nortel CS1000, it's one of the PBXs that still offers an all TDM digital architecture.
There are secondary market companies out there that will also support and maintain your existing Norstar system for many years to come. You could potentially keep the system for up to another 8 years. You could have the vendor clean and relabel all of the handsets.
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
davidwalters
IS-IT--Management
Boy is this going to be a heated debate!
- Thread starter
- #5
I just saw today where Panasonic still makes a digital system, and from what I hear, they are a pretty reliable and established brand. Might have to check them out...My problem with Toshiba is their desk sets look so freaking cheap. Its almost like Walmart helped design them. To Toshiba's credit, I usually only hear good things about the usability and the reliability of their phone systems, and they seem to have a good and long track record in the industry. I just wouldn't want to be embarrassed by a customer asking me why their new phones look so cheap and dated even though the system functions perfectly for their business needs. NEC's desk sets look a little better than Toshiba's, but not much. Though I hear they are a reliable brand as well. ESI has the best looking desk sets in my opinion. Very sleek and modern looking. The sets appear to be built with good solid plastic that doesn't squeak and creek when you handle the handset. My only problem with ESI is they appear to be the youngest brand vs Panasonic, Toshiba, and NEC. I don't think they have a huge footprint in the industry yet either. Just wondering what some of you veteran installers thought...
curlycord
Programmer
Boy is this going to be a heated debate!"
Its becoming downright tiring and ridiculous when somebody has to make a post like this every couple of months asking the same damn question and we go through the same BS over and over again with the same bloody replies.
Simply put every system is unique.
Techs will always tell you what they prefer.
There is no perfect or terrible system.
Kapeesh??
=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord
Toronto Canada
Its becoming downright tiring and ridiculous when somebody has to make a post like this every couple of months asking the same damn question and we go through the same BS over and over again with the same bloody replies.
Simply put every system is unique.
Techs will always tell you what they prefer.
There is no perfect or terrible system.
Kapeesh??
=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord
Toronto Canada
- Thread starter
- #7
GordonKapesMZ4
Programmer
Bulldog, have you seen the newer toshiba sets? The are long and horizontal and have self labeling LCD text on a large display.
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
- Thread starter
- #9
GordonKapesMZ4
Programmer
Nortel digital sets are the best sets out there, rugged, durable and keep working under the most heavy abuse. The only comparable sets on the market were the Lucent Avaya 6400 and ROLM CBX sets!
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
- Thread starter
- #11
And I may get lamb blasted for saying this, but I don't know why so many installers think the Nortel sets are invincible. I worked at a telco that did strictly Norstar and Option series installs, and I saw plenty of Nortel desksets and KSU's that had to be replaced due to age, or wear and tear. In my experience, you can realistically expect to get only 3-5 years of use out of the components of any system (including Nortel) before it needs major maintenance or replacing. Yes you have exceptions where a component will last for 10-20 years, but that isn't the norm for any equipment that is seeing normal use (including Nortel). Dust, accidental drops, heat, water, oil, dirt, and time will eventually kill anything with built with electrical components.
Splic3d
Vendor
- Dec 28, 2012
- 499
Thats true about any system. I've installed several other brands. Sometimes you install systems that you never hear from the customer again except to maybe add another set or they have outgrown what they have. I comes down to the customer's choice as for use, looks, ease of use and what they need it to do. Its up to us to offer a good product to fill the end users needs. I don't think curlycord was addressing the question being asked, but rather the aspect of it becoming a debate. Some have gotten heated, but I will not put down any system out there, I have my preferences and I have my dislikes. Its my job if a customer picks one of the systems our company sells to make sure it is installed, supported to my best ability and that the customer is happy with their choice.
If its not working, get a bigger hammer!
Avaya/Nortel/NEC/Asterisk/Access Control/CCTV/DSX/Acti/UCx
If its not working, get a bigger hammer!
Avaya/Nortel/NEC/Asterisk/Access Control/CCTV/DSX/Acti/UCx
GordonKapesMZ4
Programmer
Well Bulldog, you answered your own question. If you don't like the "acclaimed" quality of the Nortel products, I would get rid of the phones altogether and ditch the E-Metrotel and IP Office choices.
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
- Thread starter
- #15
Yeah, but Nortel is gone and ain't coming back. I just wouldn't put a new Nortel system in or recommend a customer keep a Nortel if they have the desire and resources to upgrade. Nortels may very well be the most reliable PBXs ever, but customers don't want the backbone of their business running on equipment made by someone who isn't even a company anymore...even if their Nortel is still running fine. Perception is everything in the business world, and I don't want the reputation of an antique dealer, and customers don't want to feel like they have an old clunker for a phone system. Right now I'm studying to get my CCNA, and then my CCNA Voice, because I feel like Cisco holds the best perception with high paying customers in the telco world. Too bad Nortel is dead, it would have been nice to use their CICS line for small installs. Oh well...
curlycord
Programmer
Right splic3d , yes I was agreeing with dw.
I was also thinking what Joe was in his last post about contradictions....not sure if you like them or not.
=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord
Toronto Canada
I was also thinking what Joe was in his last post about contradictions....not sure if you like them or not.
=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord
Toronto Canada
davidwalters
IS-IT--Management
But Nortel is now Avaya, when I tell them that they were just bought out they never seem to be concerned. This is not like the old days when a company's name really meant something like IBM, Eastern Airlines, Holiday Inn, etc.. Companies are bought and sold these days like in the game Monopoly.
For the most part they really are not interested. They are more concerned about running their business and that they have a dial tone.
For the most part they really are not interested. They are more concerned about running their business and that they have a dial tone.
davidwalters
IS-IT--Management
I understand that an after market or 3rd party keycode retrieval and keycode generation will be available after Avaya discontinues the Nortel support. Is this true?
- Thread starter
- #19
For the Nortel products (CS1000 and BCM) that still get support updates through Avaya, you are probably in the clear. Within the next 4 years you may see support end for those products if Avaya decides they don't want to be generous anymore by rolling out updates for a competing product. Avaya did however kill off the CICS and MICS line. A simple Google search is all a customer needs figure out they have an end of sale product. I can just hear the conversation now...
----Company CFO----
"Gee telephone man, why are we still using this phone system that's not fully supported anymore? This webpage is saying they don't even make these anymore because the company went bankrupt before being bought out by a rival company. Shouldn't we be concerned as a company, that the backbone of our business that we spend thousands of dollars on every year is an obsolete brand and technology?"
----Trusty old Nortel Vendor-----
"Well...er...I can get aftermarket parts....and...umm...Ebay...and um..these things never break....and ummm....you never get viruses. Just trust me!"
----Snooping VOIP salesman sticks head in door----
"Did someone say UPGRADE?
----Company CFO----
"Gee telephone man, why are we still using this phone system that's not fully supported anymore? This webpage is saying they don't even make these anymore because the company went bankrupt before being bought out by a rival company. Shouldn't we be concerned as a company, that the backbone of our business that we spend thousands of dollars on every year is an obsolete brand and technology?"
----Trusty old Nortel Vendor-----
"Well...er...I can get aftermarket parts....and...umm...Ebay...and um..these things never break....and ummm....you never get viruses. Just trust me!"
----Snooping VOIP salesman sticks head in door----
"Did someone say UPGRADE?
GordonKapesMZ4
Programmer
CS1000 and CS2100 are still being produced and a new software release was just issued a few weeks ago. I believe its CS1000 Release 7.6.
You know that system will be around and supported for a lot longer than the MICS/CICS. They still have a large Meridian Digital Phone component, and the Meridian M3900 sets are still manufactured.
It would be suitable for an MICS application, but too much money for a CICS application.
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
You know that system will be around and supported for a lot longer than the MICS/CICS. They still have a large Meridian Digital Phone component, and the Meridian M3900 sets are still manufactured.
It would be suitable for an MICS application, but too much money for a CICS application.
"Keep the Peace, Use RLS"
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question