IP Office or BCM???

[ableseaman]

Good Afternoon

Looking for some advise on choosing a telephone system to serve a new building.

We have narrowed our descsion down to either a BCM or IP Office.

The build will be as follows;

3 x ISDN2e
176 IP Extensions
8 x Analogue Extensions
Voicemail

Handsets
Either 1140e with add-on modules and 1210 for the BCM
or
1616i and 1608i for the IP Office

***PCs are required to be connected via the ethernet switch on the IP Handsets***

My questions are this;

We have a number of CS1000 and BCM systems so are familiar with the build and configuration. However as the BCM is going end of sale the IP Office seems the logical option - we have no experience of this system.

With the CS1000 and BCM systems we have implemented the following build on our LAN/Server/IP Handset deployment;

DHCP Server
Scope option 128 uses the "nortel-i2004-A" string
Scope option 191 for voice vlan provision

LAN - Avaya ERS 4550T
We use ADAC-LLDP Med to provide automatic configuration, QoS, VLAN, etc

As we want an almost zero handset configuration for initial installation and any subsequent moves/additions does the IP Office support this provision (DHCP/LAN) that we use for the CS1000 or does it set-up in a different way?

In addition as we are using the ip sets to serve the PCs can you indicate a prefernce for model?

One last question do the 1616i handsets come with the option of an add-on module for reception/switchboard duties?

Do we stick with what we know (BCM) or is now the time to jump to the IP Office????

Thanks in advance.

Able

 

[gwebster]

Avaya 16xx have similar zero-touch configuration capabitilies as 11xx/12xx. The latest Admin Guide for these phones is at

http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100081874.

The 1616-I supports the BM32 expansion module which - as the name implies - has 32 buttons.

 

[DigitelD]

I think you need to look at the IP Office. I am a former exclusive Nortel tech and it has been very difficult since the acquisition. There will be no more research and development in the BCM. IP Office is their system.

SHK Certified (School of Hard Knocks)
NCSS, ATSP/IP

 

[ableseaman]

Thanks for the advise/information.

Will read up on the avaya support document but looks like the ip office is the way ahead.

Probably a basic question but getting conflicting info but can the 11xx/12xx ip sets be used on the IP Office?

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Look at the UCx 50 by Emetrotel....you won't be dissapointed. It's bascially a BCM/CS1000 Hybrid designed by former Nortel engineers and developers who started Emetrotel. It allows you to use most Nortel M/T 7000 series phones and all Nortel IP sets with many of the same Nortel feature codes....

 

[gwebster]

@ableseaman - An 1220/1230/1120E/1140E which has been deplohyed on BCM can be converted to SIP software and reused on IP Office.

 

[ableseaman]

Thanks to everyone for the advise/information.

Able

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

If I want to go full Nortel IP, What about lunch rooms, corridors and classrooms that need a low use phone....It's an unfair that IP Office doesn't allow you to use the 1210/1110 compact IP phones....Cisco has a simailar phone that most Cisco installations use. Why should I install an 1120E in every classroom or lunch rooms at a corporation? I don't like the lack of choices....

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Excuse me Full NorAvaya IP with 11xx or 12xx sets

 

[biv343]

1110/1210 don't have the horsepower to run a SIP load which is why they can't be used on anything but a Unistim based call server.

The 1603 is a low end IP phone that could be used where a 1110/1210 would be used. I personally don't care for that model, but I've used it when the customer insists.

One thing in life is for certain. Everything will die, even your favorite Nortel systems and telephones (and equivalent hardware from Avaya, Cisco, NEC, Panasonic, Toshiba, Iwatsu, Comdial, the list goes on and on). Sometimes it just isn't worth the effort to fight the inevitable.

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

I just feel innovation and wow factor is out, and economies of scale is in......

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Couldn't the 1110/1210 been reengineered to use SIP? I think the cop out is on Avaya's part. Refuse to rengineer something and spend the time innovating, and instead throw it away and make the customer buy a telephone that's at least $100 more expensive....it's all about business.....