moving from a Modular ICS to a BCM system 4

[BigFish555]

looking to chat with someone familiar with both phone systems. I want to move our newer BCM system from an office we're closing to replace our older Modular ICS.

I need to know what existing harware is compatible (station and line modules)?

Also, are the Call Pilots the same? Can I use my existing unit and keep all the same info?

More questions to follow I'm sure.

Thanks!

Norm

 

[Nortel4Ever]

The existing trunk and station modules on your MICS can be connected to a BCM 1000, 200, 400, or 450 with the use of a FEM (Fibre Expansion Module) in the BCM. A BCM50 does not support a FEM
The Call Pilot on your MICS cannot be connected to a BCM at all.

What model of BCM are you moving?

 

[pccal]

You did not say what kind of BCM. If it is a BCM 50 than only the sets will work from the Mod Ics. If it is a BCM 400 or 450 you could add a Fem Module & use any 12 x 0 or 0 x 16 modules but the Call Pilot will be no good so you are most likely going to need Key Codes for more mailboxes in the BCM. I would not recommend going with the FEM but rather adding the proper hardware to the BCM if it is not big enough to add any new sets or lines that you will neeed.

 

[BigFish555]

Thanks to both - the newer system is a BCM50

 

[Crowtalks]

Something else to consider is that the BCM 50 maxes out at about 50 digital stations (I don't recall if that applies to IP terminals).

To get more than 16 stations, you need the Expansion cabinet and then it's a toss up what kind of module to put in the expansion depending on how many stations and how many trunks you want to utilize.

Jim

"If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have became a locksmith" Albert Einstein

NCSS NCTS NCTE
Mitel 3300 4.2 basic & advanced, 5000 4.0

 

[norstarboy125]

How many stations and trunks do you have?

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer

 

[Rustymutt]

Is there a reason for moving from the MICS to the BCM? Many people don't understand what improvement are available with the BCM.
Really, if your not needing any of the features the BCM offers that the MICS doesn't, then stay at the MICS.

 

[dibthree]

The MICS will run until the end of time. It is an awesome phone system.

I also love the BCM and have worked on them for years. If I were upgrading today I would not go BCM because of the end of life issue.

We like to use a lot of the advanced features and desktop integration. Avaya has announced end of life and is no longer putting development dollars into that system so we have lots of issues with getting their applications to work with Outlook 2010 and Windows 7 64bit.

We have worked on a lot of systems and tested lots of options. I think the one I like the best right now is the IP Office for this size install.

 

[BigFish555]

Our current Modular system is at least 8 years old - the BCM is two years old, still under ATT support contract and a newer technical system from an office we are closing down. My thought was to replace the MICS with the newer BCM. We are moving to a PRI.
We just exppanded the MICS for Station capacity for our expansion, and hope to use Station and Line modules so I don't have to purchase new ones for the BCM.

 

[Rustymutt]

MICS could be upgraded to the newest software, 7.1.
Very stable and works great with PRI. Why spend all this extra money for the BCM?

 

[Rustymutt]

BCM50 will not allow the use of your MICS modules. I suggest you upgrade your MICS to 7.1 and get a DTI card for the PRI with the enabler keycode. Far less trouble keeping a MICS working than a very complex BCM system. Unless you need some feature that MICS doesn't offer that the BCM does. I'm just saying.

 

[Rustymutt]

BCM50 will not allow the use of your MICS modules. I suggest you upgrade your MICS to 7.1 and get a DTI card for the PRI with the enabler keycode. Far less trouble keeping a MICS working than a very complex BCM system. Unless you need some feature that MICS doesn't offer that the BCM does. I'm just saying. I retired from AT&T in 09 after 25 years of working phone systems. IP is great, but also pushed by the industry many times when it's not needed.
It's expensive compared to TDM systems.

 

[dibthree]

Well said Rusty. Agreed.

 

[norstarboy125]

Sounds like he just wants to go with the newer system, I think that I would as well. I still use a BCM 50 in the office and I love the thing. I know they are not as reliable as the ol Norstar's but if you ever want to add any IP sets/trunks your sol. I need to get my hands on one of those E-Metro-Tel systems that run the Nortel phones TDM and IP. I just haven't got around to doing that yet, it's look like a great alternative to the IPO which I pretty much hate. I don't know if that's from 17 yrs. of working on Nortel's or does the system really just have way more steps to do basic things and more trouble to work on?

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer

 

[Rustymutt]

IPO means your a slave to Avaya. They make it hard to understand and not user friendly in my opinion. I work on them and can tell you it takes way more time to setup one IPO over BCM. I'm not a fan of Avaya period. They want to own their customers, and get revenue coming in every year from updates.

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

Emetrotel is the way to go in my book, I've been nothing but impressed, per my last posting about refreshing a BCM....