Nortel CS1000 and Cisco CME Integration. 1

[Stagemusic]

We are a small but quickly growing company currently using Nortel's CS1000 in our home office with about 50 sites scattered across the world that are using a number of different types of switches but mostly Nortel. One of our IT vendors has proposed that we use the Cisco CCME for a project for another office that will be located about 3 miles from our Home Office. We have set certain parameters for this office including total transparancy with the HO, 4 digit dialing between sites, and survivability in the event of an emergency situation. We have priced a number of Nortel's options and the price on the Cisco CCME is significantly lower. However, will it work and how?

 

[johnpoole]

it will work with very few spots where it is not transparent. but do you want another headache? we use cisco voip behind our 81c and it works but it also gives another layer of software, another level of things to consider before making other changes.. with a single system users find it much eaiser to work at any site

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[Stagemusic]

Thanks John, this is a very specialized setting that will have no real interaction with the other sites beyond the home office and the owner of the company is interested in seeing how the Cisco product performs in this setting (only 12-16 phones). We are not planning on expanding the beta test for Cisco beyond this office at this time but the 60% cost savings is hard to beat in this instance. I know it's a QSIG setting for Nortel but is there anything else that I need to know in particular?

 

[arunkamat]

Experimenting with cisco is fine. Cisco being 60% lower than Nortel is not fair to them. Nortel's pricing is aggressive and typically lower than Cisco. If price plays a role, changing Nortel reseller might do the trick. BCM50 is a good fit for your requirements and currently Nortel has a promo on phones, expiring on 30th June. Sounds like a sales person, but Nortel loyalty is strong.

 

[atascoman]

We currently have a Cisco Call Manager connected to our Option 81 via a QSIG PRI link. We are able to provide voicemail services including lighting the MWI. We had to build an FXO port in the Cisco gateway (3745 router) and connect it to an analog port on the Nortel in order to be able to access page ports and pick up parked calls on the Nortel. It works pretty well so far, there are some features like intercom groups that the Cisco doesnt have but it provides most of the basic PBX features. We can transfer, conference and forward to and from the Cisco.

 

[Stagemusic]

arunkamat,

Have a star. I agree totally with you and have made the same argument, thinking that the BCM50 would be perfect. However, the vendor had a song and dance that the 200 or even 400 would be needed. The pricing was absolutely out of sight when compared to the Cisco product. Nortel loyalty runs strong in me as well. We also have another project that is for a full CS1000 and the price tag is 170+K. You would think that the vendor would have a little foresight wouldn't you? Anyway, thank you for your input.