Partner New Release

[commpath]

Does any one know if Avaya is coming out with 8.0. My boss said he heard something about it and I wanted to see if any one knew.

 

[tdaugirdas]

Yes - Release 8 is scheduled to come out at the end of the 1st quarter 2009. My understanding is that there will be a firmware version to upgrade BOTH R7 and R6 processors to some version of release 8.0. Release 8 is also supposed to have some great new features.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[Dexman]

Because of what happened with the R7 processor, I suspect that some Avaya Business Partners will hold off on selling the new processor to their customers until they are sure that the unit is bug-free.

Any major problems could, very well, result in a devastating blow to the Partner ACS platform.

If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[tdaugirdas]

These :firmware" upgrades will be for the existing R7 and R6 processors - similar to the "O" firmware update. I also saw a "mock-up" of the "new" "proposed" Partner - which looked just like an IP Office 500 - with a few special ports and ETR modules - instead of (Digi8) digital modules.

The Release 8 firmware is also supposed to support digital phones, provide single-line phone caller ID and a whole host of other goodies - including "live" remote programming - just not sure which of those will require a "new" processor vs, just a firmware upgrade.

There may be an interim R8 Partner processor (similar to the R7) before the IPO look-alike "processor" comes out.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[Dexman]

I like the idea of making the Partner ACS hardware look like the IP Office. I suspect a smaller footprint would make the system that much more attractive. Just keep the programming structure the same.

Using digital phones will be good. I've long held that the 4400 series phones have less background hiss than the Partner Euro series phones.

If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[tdaugirdas]

Well - we'll see. I did not like their idea to make a "special" IP Office unit for Partner. I asked why they could not use the regular IP Office 500 main box - instead of making a quasi-Partner look-alike box - because of eventual upgrade issues - when customers may want to migrate to a "real" IP Office 500. I also thought it would be great if the ETR modules would work on a regular IP 500 vs. just the Partner look-alike box. There are a lot of Partner phones out there and IPO has nothing that has a "backlight" for darker spaces.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[Dexman]

I thought that the larger phones 2410, 2420, 5410 & 5420 had lit displays. I know those phones are expensive. (Sorry for the slight topic detour)

If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[tdaugirdas]

No - they don't have backlit displays - just the standard type.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[jinxs]

Dexman,

Only the 5621 has the backlit display. Which is an IP Phone. Again off topic.

tdaugirdas,

Did you Avaya Channel Manager give you the proposed information on the new Partner? I would love to read any information available.

A.J. Wiesner

 

[TouchToneTommy]

The info that has been shared thus far has been tagged [red]"Proprietary & Confidential. Under NDA"[/red] as well as "For Planning Purposes Only".

I'd hate for any BP to get in hot water at this point of the game!