Octel Messaging Upgrade Project

[des0906]

We are preparing to purchase a new voicemail system for a company with 1700 voicemail users. In order to prepare our "needs analysis", I was hoping to find some examples created by other folks. If anyone has anything like this let me know.

Thanks.

 

[KenMeans]

what type of system are you on now and what kind are you moving to ?

 

[des0906]

We are currently on an old, old, old release of VMX300. As far as where we are going, that's is something we've yet to determine completely. I am at this point in the "needs analysis" portion of the project, and was hoping to find a standard features checklist or something similiar to that. When I go to multiple vendors, I intend to give them a standard checklist with our requirements. I just wanted to see if someone had an example from previous projects.

Thanks.

 

[jon24422531]

If it was up to me, I would upgrade the VMX300 to the latest release and include DPNSS or QSIG etc (depending on the PBX). Not sure about the cost, but there would be no issues regarding re-educating users. Although fairly old the VMX/Octel systems are very reliable and robust compared to PC based systems, and can be configured to do almost anything other voice processors can do.

Jonathan Schofield

 

[doktor]

Dear des0906

I (and my engineers) am serving approx. 200 customers with the old type VMX-100/200/300 sytems in a small country in Europe.
Based on our country's population this number of OCTEL/VMX customers is high, as the prices for a new system years ago was very very high.
We recommend the users / customers to keep their existing OCTEL/VMX-100/200/300 systems as long as possible, as it is.
The reason for this is that these systems are extremely reliable.
The customers, of course, buys new and PC based voice mail servers for their VIP employees. These VIP employees often require Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes e-mail integration, and a graphic interface on their client PC to operate their voice mailbox.
The companies now have two voice mail systems. The old VMX for the basic users requiring a telephone interface (touch tone telephone) and the users requiring a GUI interface (Graphic User Interface), i.e. a PC.

In the end, I think, both user types are happy and the companies save on money, not having to "upgrade" all their users to the PC based voice mail systems.

Best regards doktor

 

[KenMeans]

Well we don’t have a document per say but when we install a new system we make sure that we don’t miss anything from the system we are replacing.

So I would think the onus is on the selling vender to make you feel good about it.

The best solution would be to be able to port all of your current settings in to a new system but I doubt that that can be done unless you are moving within the same platform.

Things to look for would be what am I going to lose and gain with the new system. It has been my experience that the new systems are not as flexible and do not offer as many options with regard to the auto attend feature.

 

[jon24422531]

As I am sure doktor will be aware, it is possible to have the 'Notes' or 'Outlook' integration with the Serenade using 'Visual Mailbox' etc. or even an older VMXWorks program. This also leads to 'HotDesk' and other interesting applications...............

Jonathan Schofield

 

[doktor]

Hi jon24422531

The doktor is aware of this.
But in our country it is often less expensive to have two different voice mail systems.
Pricing on PC based voice mail systems with all the integrations to 'Notes' or 'Outlook' is lower than upgrading the existing VMX/OCTEL platforms.
(I am sorry to say).
Therefore a number of our customers have several VM systems.
BR doktor.

 

[jon24422531]

During my years working as a contractor for VMX, then Octel, then Lucent and finally Avaya, I could never understand the marketing ploy of taking possibly the very best Voice Processing product in the world (VMX with DIAL software) and pricing it out of the market. Also discontinuing (or developing) the superb VMX100 and so many other apparently strange marketing decisions, it's as if the manager in charge was paid by the opposition.

Jonathan Schofield

 

[doktor]

Dear jon24422531

I feel the same as you.
Our customer were screaming for the VMX-100, and we could have sold these systems "as sweet cakes"...
But the reality - after the VMX 100 was discontinued - was not very much appreciated by our customers, partners and customers.
Sorry to say that.

Yours doktor

PS. I also went all the way with "VMX, then Octel, then Lucent and finally Avaya"...