Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

  • Congratulations Westi on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Some Merlin Questions

Status
Not open for further replies.

pbxguy

MIS
Oct 6, 2003
8
US
1. Why do I keep seeing Legend MLX phones and Merlin MLX phones? Are they really the same thing? They look alike.

2. What is HFAI?

3. I see that the D in the model number (ex: MLX10D) stands for display, but what about when there's a 'P'?
 
1. Why do I keep seeing Legend MLX phones and Merlin MLX phones? Are they really the same thing? They look alike.

MLX is MLX - Multi Line Extension - Are you asking LUCENT, AT&T, and AVAYA?

2. What is HFAI?

Hands Free Answer Intercom

I set up most of my systems for VOICE ANNOUNCE TRANSFER, and tell the users to keep the HFAI button on.

They love it !

3. I see that the D in the model number (ex: MLX10D) stands for display, but what about when there's a 'P'?

P stands for PASSAGEWAY. Sets with the P are capable of supporting an external PASSAGEWAY Adapter which could interface with a PC and had DIALING and other features available through the PASSAGEWAY SOFTWARE. Thus making the phone INTEGRATED to the PC. It was pretty slick, but I think AVAYA quit selling it. (Also, a 28 "DP" Can accomodate a DSS Field, providing it is also an attendant.)
 
Wow, that was quick! Thanks for the detailed reply!

1. Well, we have an Avaya system, but I thought Lucent, AT&T, and AVAYA where the same thing now? Is there Lucent Merlin, AT&T Merlin, and Avaya Merlin? Ifso, do they all look the same? We need some replacement MLX5, MLX10 and MLX10D phones, I didn't know there were so many different types.

 
OK, this will be just as quick, and perhaps more detailed than you want.

AT&T OWNED the Bell System (Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell, etc.) prior to 1984.

Prior to 1884 (more or less) you could not purchase a PHONE of PHONE SYSTEM from AT&T, you could only "LEASE" it from the Bell Company.

The Government "BROKE UP" the Bell System in 1984, and part of the deal was that the Bell Companys could not lease phones and phone systems out to end user customers.

Suddenly, AT&T was in the PHONE & System Selling (& Leasing at times) Business.

Now they needed a "NEW" product for end users.

(Their old products wouldn't be good to sell 'cause they were designed to last 40 or 50 years, LITTERALLY!)

Now to get to the point!

AT&T was the ORIGINAL manufacture of the MERLIN. Started in 1983-84 or so. It was only a 2 X 6, (Lines Telephones) eventually becomming a 30 X 70. (ATL Phones)

Later, AT&T came up with the MERLIN 2, bigger, but not much in the way of stuff.

Then AT&T Developed the LEGEND, looked like MERLIN 2, but had the ability to support MLX Phones and ATL phones, and many more features.

Later, AT&T "SPUN OFF" the Phone and Networking stuff, into a company called LUCENT.

Then LUCENT spun off the Phone stuff to a company called AVAYA.

That's why you have 3 different ones.

However, there are some MINOR differences in these phones due to "VINTAGES". I will not attempt to go into these issues, but let's just say the "DP" sets are a little better, usually.

Also, some older "D" sets are just fine too.
 
"Prior to 1884 (more or less) you could not purchase a PHONE of PHONE SYSTEM from AT&T, you could only "LEASE" it from the Bell Company."

Thats because prior to 1884, phones didn't exist.

Just kidding. I found the typo to be somewhat comedic.

Kris

:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top