End OfThe Road For Partner And Magix Systems? 1

[Dexman]

I read on another tech-help site that Avaya is going to drop the Partner and Magix lines in late 2006 and go full steam ahead with IP based systems.

Is this true?

The Partner system is great for small outfits, such as a mom & pop business or a church, where the cost and/or complexity of an IP based system would make such a system impractical.

 

[hbiss]

I just attended an Avaya meeting and if anything the Partner will be supported way past that. Due next month is the ACS R7.0 which makes the processor mod a 5x9. This is a complete redesign to make Partner more competive with other manufacturers as a standalone although all features remain the same as the R6.0 except for an internal NVRAM so no backup/restore card is needed. Expect R8.0 around May of '05. That revision should include new features that at this point are a mystery.

My feeling is that Partner will increase in capacity, possibly with an expansion carrier to accommodate some medium sized installations which are now handled by Magix. The clunky Magix will be discontinued and the IP based systems will be the upgrade path from Partner.

-Hal

 

[Dexman]

Thank you Hal for the update!

One of my mottos is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". The Partner ACS, while it isn't perfect, is still a fine system.
It's been one of the nice "gifts" AT&T/Lucent Technologies gave to the telecom industry. (The Merlin Classic from Western Electric was no slouch either).

Paul.

 

[tryingmybest]

Hope not for Partner, and I don't think it is from what little I've heard.


Where can I find details on the IP Office system? What phones does it utilize?

 

[Dexman]

I found this on Avaya's website:

http://www1.avaya.com/enterprise/solutions/convergence/eclips/

I would suspect that additional models, geared for small to medium sized applications, are in the works, but I am not familiar with any of the specifics.

 

[tryingmybest]

The IP Office phones look cool. The one with the large display reminds me of the Siemens ones as seen on several TV shows of late. How does IP Office work? I know it's VoIP technology but I've never quite understood how it all fits together. Are they easier to install/program? What's the one-paragraph description of the basics of IP Office, if you will?

 

[Dexman]

I'm not too familiar with IP systems. Tek-tips does have a forum for Avaya IP systems. That might be a good starting location to get info on Avaya's IP systems.

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi All,
I'm certified on the IP Office. It's a cool system. BUT, it is so flexible that you do need to know what you are doing. My recommendations usually run to using the 44XX series phones unless there is a compelling reason to go ip. It is great for networking and I think it's main strength is in that direction. IP outside is okay. One final note, have you looked at the price of layer 3 switches? Case closed.
The Partner is hard to beat, and is the right choice most of the time. I'd like to see it change to supporting the 44XX series phones also.
For reliability, the Magix can't be beat. It's quirky, but fun. I'd hate to see it go. It uses 44XX series phones also.
-Chris

 

[jlshelton]

It's a shame that AT&T didn't start out with one technology for the phones across multiple product lines (Partner, Merlin, Definity). A well designed desk phone technology would have lasted 20 years, with IP phones serving the next generation.

I don't think there is a single phone in Avaya's arsenal that incorporates all the good ideas from Partner, Merlin, etc.