SMDR Capabilties On Norstar In General 2

[MetroMan]

Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone is haveing a healthy and profitable new year so far...

A client of mine is having us nuke his old Toshiba DK-280 for a MICS 6.1 system (Score one more for Nortel!!!!). Problem is, the Law Firm needs Account codes for the SMDR output. They are real tight-a##es, and don't want to pony up for CTI software that will do it, and they have like 300 codes for different clients ; from 1 to 10 digits long?????

Any Suggestions?

Trev.

 

[VencomRob]

Get them Call Accounting software.
If they don't they can do without the codes!
Simple as that.

 

[senk1s]

SMDR does suppoet account codes, but it is not forced account codes, meaning even if you dont enter the account code the call will go through.

but you need a software that can capture and process reports based on account codes

CTA is required, if you need to force them to enter a code

 

[salo0920]

You can turn this into a 2 step process if you like for probably less than the cost of a CTI solution.

Here is how we do it.

1) Have the phone company install forced account codes on the trunk lines. They will usually do this for next to nothing. You can have forced and verified or just forced.

2) You can buy a standard SMDR and license the software call PPX call trafficator. This software is very inexpensive (under $300) and it will take the digits entered (which will now be forced by the telco) and put them properly into the account code field.

Case closed.

 

[MetroMan]

Hi Guys, Thanks for the help.

senk1s, how do you set it up as volentary codes? The lawers will always remeber to enter the code(they loooooove money!, I just need the number they called, and an extra 1-10 digits that they will enter afetr or before the number (you tell me where)! Thanks!

salo0920, I coulden't find the PPX software on the net... would you happen to have a link or a manufatcturer name?

Thanks again guys!

-T-

 

[salo0920]

You can go to tariff.dcslab.net for the product information.

Also, despite what you might think, noone always remembers to enter account codes. They are much better when they are forced.

 

[AlquestTech]

Actually, I have worked a lot with law firms and that is fairly standard. They enter the codes so they can bill their time to the appropriate client. (When monies involved they tend to remember.. )
All you need do is enter a feature code to use for Account Code entry in the SMDR programming.
F9*2
I think default is F900

Then it also helps if you program a key on each users phone as an Account Code key
This way they can press the key at any time during the call and then enter the code.

 

[senk1s]

feature 900 is the default code ...alquesttech beat me in the race to providing information

we have a couple of CPAs that use telecost.com accounting package ... they looove money too.

the lengths of account codes can be variable and it works.
the codes can be stored in speed dial for frequently called clients

 

[MetroMan]

Oooooh, I'm loving this info.... I just installed my 328th MICS today, and I have yet to work with the SMDR module!!!!
How sad is that? When I add the module, will FEATURE 900 become avaliable?? Where do I enter the Codes themselves, and Senk1s, what do you mean by using speed dial, the client's number along with their client code?

-T-

 

[AlquestTech]

You cannot enter the codes anywhere, (as far as a list if that's what you mean) as they are not verified account codes.
Typically the user places the call and then enters the feature code, (or presses the key assigned this feature), and then enters the appropriate account code.
Alternately, they can simply enter the account code at any time during a call.
Remember, these are true account codes. Codes added to the call record so as to tag that call as having to do with a particular account or customer/client. This is routinely used by Law firms for the purposes of billing the lawyers time on that call to a particular client.

You CAN also use these as authorization codes, but the will not be forced nor verified unless you use some third-party software and a CTA. Or in conjunction with forced and/or verified authorization/account codes via your service provider. But if they are going to do it, they can also sort the phone bills by Authorization/Account Codes and there would be little need to track them via SMDR.

Of course, if you have 'honest' people you can just ask that they enter the same code all the time to identify the calls as theirs; however, as salo0920 indicated, even the best intentioned will likely forget to enter codes ALL of the time in this situation.

By the way a lot of this info came from some of the great people here when I first started trying to get forced and verified auth codes. (There are some really helpful and knowledgeable people here!)

 

[senk1s]

what i meant was the account code on the one touch keys.

when u add the SMDR module, the MICS detects it, but you setup the parameters using feature 9*2

as far as the account codes themselves, alquest was right , they are not verified by the system
you have a manual list made up ...eg 123 for senk1s 345 for alquest and so on ... so everytime you talk to me , press feature 900 and 123 , i think you can edit the account code if you do a type.
variable lenght account codes 1 thru 12 digits

 

[spotless]

Nortel has a bunch of excellent Developer Partners with products for forced account codes, call accounting and console applications.

http://www.nortelnetworks.com/prd/dpp/partners/ent_partners.html

These products are deemed Nortel Networks compatible after undergoing lab testing.

S

 

[jerryreeve]

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that RSI makes an account code software that works with norstar and a CTA-100

check out their website

http://ftp.telecost.com/bcm/nortel.htm

JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com

 

[scanjet]

a cta 100 will allow forced account codes without any additional software

 

[MetroMan]

Really??? How's that? Which format does it output the info as?

 

[spotless]

I am not aware of any way of using a CTA-100 for forced/verified account codes without third party CDR.

The software is offered by RSI (and legacy software exists from a vendor called Cintech).

You can check out the RSI offering at:

http://www.telecost.com/tools.htm

S16

 

[spotless]

Sorry...

this link works...

http://www.telecost.com/tools.htm

 

[Jolagues]

All of this info is very useful however I do have a couple of questions I am setting up a MICS in a real estate office they want their users to have to enter authorization codes to access outside lines so they can bill the individual agents for their calls. they are fine with having to get an smdr moduel and cdr software but how do I go about setting this up and do I need anything else?



José

Please let me know if this was helpful

 

[senk1s]

you need a CTA hooked up to a PC

the PC must have a call accounting software and any 3rd party TAPI compliant call control software

you dont need an smdr if you have a CTA, that takes care smdr information as well

ive set one up for a CPA office for the exact same requirement
i used CTA100, telecost shadow acctg s/w and their cti tools pack
setup time took abt 4 to 5 hours ...