Octel 250 questions-might switch to a Call Pilot

[albiej]

We have an Octel 250 with 3.10.09sw. For five years it has been very reliable. We do keep the filter clean, do tape backups etc. We have had no service contract with it. Avaya says it can still provide support till 2011 with parts and service. We have a 24 port (digital) system with a lan board(not used)and tape backup. We have about 500 end users.

Any thoughts on the longevity of this unit.? This might require a crystal ball, but what are the chances of this continuing to provide trouble free service for us for another five years?

Also, who are other established vendors that can provide service on the 250 in the Boston area?

If we got a service contract with a vendor what can we expect to pay?

Another scenerio is to buy spare boards etc to keep on hand. I personally don't think thats a good idea because of board revisions going obsolete, then You are stuck with obsolete spares.

The powers to be are thinking of changing the 250 out for a Call pilot to enterface with our Nortel 81C. How is this Call pilot as far as reliability?

Sorry for the long post. I just got this request for info yesterday and they need answer today by cob.
Thanks
AL

 

[KenMeans]

The Octel will provide many more years of service. As far as spares go there will not be any more revisions oon the Octel side so i think you are safe with that.

If they are looking to add features you can use the LAN card for many apps like EVM

Cost of a service contract would be hard to say but around 6,000.00 @ year to start would be a fair price.

Ken Means

http://www.tel-is.com

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

 

[albiej]

Thank you Ken for the reply. If I can pick your brain once again,,,,, if we were to buy some spare equip to keep on site, which ones would you buy and about how much would they cost?

 

[doktor]

Just to add some comments concerning the reliability of OCTEL product.
Our company had service contracts on 120 systems - in the good days. Today some of the customers have switched to Voice mail systems running on PC's.
Still around 80 of OCTEL voice mail systems are still in our portofolio. As AVAYA has send out service stop on these products our customers have begun to ask the same questions as you have.
The "weak" part are primarily Harddisks.
Most of our harddisk at the customers sites have been running now for 13 years or more..
Power suppiles an line card go defective very seldom.
I think that we have swapped 2 to 3 power supplies in 13 years. And 2-3 line cards in the same period.
Hope that you can use this.
/// doktor

 

[albiej]

Thanks for the replies. Our administrator has decided to keep the 250 with little or no changes. People that use the system are not really all that technical and don't really need fancy integration with email etc. This is fine with me. Does anyone see any advantage in upgrading to the latest software? Keep in mind this is not on a lan.

 

[KenMeans]

I would get a CCF and a power supply plus a fan as the system will not boot if a fan is bad with out bypassing the testing on boot.

If you need more info go to our website

Ken Means

http://www.tel-is.com

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

 

[WideTrac]

Ditto with all above,
Parts at a very reasonable price and contract availability can be found with a business called BSL Telephony Services
Call Mark Sillitto 800-992-9915, ext 304
Tell Mark that Tommy sent you his way.

 

[Chessrogue]

Hi,
We repair all Octel 250, 350 boards, power supplys, drives and more.
call Jimmy Herrera 972-371-2852 Source inc.
Tell Jimmy that Clarence sent you.