StarTalk vs. Call Pilot & New System Install

[MichaelDOM2005]

Hello friends:

Just a few quick questions for you:

1. We are seriously considering purchasing a 4x32 MICS with 4-port StarTalk Flash voice mail. The person who is installing the system for us said that we should look into getting a Call Pilot voice mail system instead. After doing some research, the only added benefit that I can find is that it does ACD, which we will never do. We have very basic voice mail needs.

2. Will the StarTalk Flash send Caller ID information to the sets when it transfers a call to an extension?

3. When the system arrives to us, someone is going to install and wire it up. Can someone point me to a web site or provide suggestions to me as to what I need to program initially to get things up and running, and most importantly, to get the voice mail system and the phone system talking to one another?

Thanks everyone!
Michael.

 

[Arr]

Michael,
The MICS is a great system. Not knowing your release version I will guess that it is not 6.1. So you will be required to press a feature button to pick up the CLID. The 4 port flash would have to lose half its mailboxes to go ACD. The installer you hire should do all the programming and set up for your initial installation. Then if he/she works well with your company keep them as you would any service trade for future assistance. It is worth every penny to have a good communications tech handy.
If the two units came from the same working environment, you should have no trouble. If they are cobbled together and your installer isn't a N* tech. Go get one to verify the whole thing will be compatable. Not all releases of KSU are compatable with all releases of Flash.

Good Luck
PhM

 

[NTL555]

Micheal,

I just recently tried the CLID feature from the AA on the CP150. It did pass the information to my extension showing the phone number instead of the voicemail DN. Now I do now know if this will work with the other voicemails. I only tested this on a MICS 6.0 with CP150.

I am also going to assume that you will be using a newer software on your MICS being that the CP only works with 4.1 and above. The CP does a WHOLE lot more than the flash - outbound transfer, fax detection, personal target attendants, 9 hours of storage time, editable class of service, call record, etc. Besides, I think you will have more fun with the CP because of its WEB GUI.

As far as setup, your installer SHOULD know what he/she is doing. It would take me at least 30 min to an hour to program a basic 4x32 system with voicemail. Now if your installer is taking like 8 hours to program it.. I think you should get another installer.

NamLy555@aol.com

 

[MichaelDOM2005]

Hello there:

Thanks very much for your posts. So basically what I'm hearing from you is that the main difference between the Call Pilot and the StarTalk is that it has some "extra" bells and whistles that the StarTalk does not have, like outband transfer and individual attendants.

We would not plan to use these features at all, and we have no plan of having ACD (we are a church, so this would not even be an issue for us).

Could someone clarify the Caller ID transfer from the voice mail system? We would be using the 6.0 software version with the StarTalk 4-port. I just want to be sure that this particular voice mail system will pass on the Caller ID information to the set. That's OK if we need to program a feature button - we have done that here at the other church I work at, and it's fine.

Here's a question though:

One of the workers at the church needs to be accessible via our main lines (Lines 1,2 and 3). But, he also has a private line that only he uses. Can I record a different greeting for that particular line for him?

Also, does the StarTalk 4-port support caller tables (multiple greetings)?

Thanks for the valuable help everyone!

-Michael.

 

[commsguy]

the Call Pilot is less expensive. Plus you have the ability to add those features you now say you will never use.

Never say Never.

I seriously question anyone who would buy a Startalk today.

commsguy

http://www.convetech.com

 

[Arr]

Call Pilot comes with 10 user mailboxes then upgrades from there,
Flash 4 comes with 48 user mailboxes and that's all it will go.

PhM

 

[jerryreeve]

FYI we have mics 4.1 with NVM 4 on a NAM and calls thru the AA will pass callid data to the sets. actually CID will pass direct to the sets on a transfer (be it voicemail or RealPerson) it just dosen't pass it on the initial ringing in.

I would also suggest the CP because I have never gotten in trouble for having an unused capability. You can sure get into trouble for not having the ability to upgrade though. also for some reason it is less expensive from the start.

JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com