New to NEC

[Enobaham]

My employer is looking into servicing nec systems but not necessarily selling them. Before we jump into servicing them we want to make sure it's not too complicated to service them but not be a dealer or reseller. Being new to nec we have some questions about how this would work.
1. If we service more than 1 nec system, do we need a PCPro application per system? Or would 1 PCPro application allow me to service multiple nec systems?
2. Does the PCPro software come included with the nec system when purchased by the client?
3. As far as I understand it we would partner with a dealer so we can have access to the software while not selling the systems ourselves. I get a bit confused here because I also feel like I need to have some kind of relationship with NEC itself to get access to the support etc. Am I correct on that or do I have this all wrong?
4. We have a potential client who wants to dump their current service company and have us pick it up. How would we go about getting the programming software and licences for their system since it's already set up and not new out-of-the-box?

These may be loaded questions but I am hoping for some clarification on how this could work.

 

[belevedere]

First, you need to tell us which NEC systems you are talking about. They have many, and each one uses it's own version of PCPro. I currently have PCPRo on my PC for SL1100/SL2100/SV8100/SV9100/SV9300. Each one is unique to the system. You can log in and program using WEBPro, with almost any web browser. SL1100/2100 is sold to the general public, and NEC provides a link where you can get info and tools. SV systems are only through authorized dealers. If you partner with a dealer then you can get things from them, however, with SV systems, the customer belongs to the dealer. There is a dealer change form that must be filled out by the customer to switch dealers. SL systems are wide open.
You only need one copy of PCPro. It can be used to log into any number of systems of the same kind.
Licenses can only be purchased from NEC resellers or dealers.
The company I work for is a reseller. We are not bound by NEC contract on the SL systems. SV systems require us to be the customers' designated dealer.
Which NEC systems are you looking at?

 

[Enobaham]

Right now we are looking at the sv8100 and sv9100 but if the sl models are open to the world then we may go that route.
My experience using webpro is limited but I was having a hard time setting up extensions and found that more people were using the PCPro and i figured somethings I could only do through the PCPro.

Ill do some more digging into the different models and see where we want to go.

One more question, would the phones connected to a sv9100 also connect to a sl2100?

Thanks again for all of your help

 

[belevedere]

The latest WEBPro and PCPro are 95% compatible as far as setting things up go. PCPro is better in that when you make changes you can review them before uploading into the system, whereas WEBPro goes right in.
No those phones are not compatible. SL1100 phones will work on the SL2100, but not the other way. And SV phones VS> SL phones are not compatible.
If you have interest in SL2100's check out

http://www.mytechdistributors.com

they do a good job of pre-programming and support.

 

[Enobaham]

Ok sounds good.
How do these sl versions compare the something like switchvox or 3cx? Really the goal is to find a solution that is easy for both me the one maintaining the system and for the client who is using the system.

 

[belevedere]

I do not know those systems. The NEC SL2100 is fairly easy to work on. The above mentioned web site pre programs and supports remotely. They make it very easy to do.

 

[OzzieGeorge]

The SL systems are a simplified version of the SV systems when it comes to programming (for want of a better way of putting it). Also the higher the number, the newer the system. Get your hands on the PcPro software for a couple of systems and play with it as you can program in PcPro as if you are actually connected to a system. Also seek out the features and specifications manuals as they give real insights of the programming needed for each feature.

 

[OzzieGeorge]

I should clarify, when I said the higher the number, I meant, the 9100 is newer than the 8100 and the 2100 is newer than the 1100. There were also forerunners of these systems like the IPK and IPK2 for the SL range and the IVS, IVS2 and IPS for the SV range (these systems actually go back 30+ years in various models)!

 

[Enobaham]

Ok.
Is the Univerge Blue as locked down as the SV series or is it open to the world like the SL series. I assume it is similar to SV series because it is univerge...

 

[belevedere]

Univerge Blue is on par with the SV systems.

 

[Enobaham]

Ya that makes sense. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Enobaham]

Question for clarification.
Can I connect a DT700 series phone to a SL1100 at all? Connect it with limited functionality (you can but shouldn't) or is it a 100% no go, they won't even communicated with each other?

 

[belevedere]

Will not work.