Wait for BCM 50 or go with norstar?

[cobac]

I have a customer who needs a phone system installed in small office space being built out during the next two months.

Originally was going to go with a CICS and Call Pilot because it handled their Unified Messaging needs and with a nice $1500 price point.

Now I noticed BCM 50 is coming out which handles all their needs too (4 analog lines and about 7 telephones). The Nortel IP phones also look much cooler and the customer prefers the look of them (they are similar to the Meridian 1 LCD phones).

Do you think it is worth waiting and will the equipment actually be available to purchase at the end of May?

Thanks for any insight....

 

[acewarlock]

Nortel is releasing them May 1, but my vendor isn't releasing them until Jun 1. So it depends on your vendor.

 

[cobac]

Thanks for the info, everywhere I read it said Nortel was releasing on May 27th... Price point is inline with the CICS/Call Pilot setup right? If the BCM is more money then they would go with CICS...

 

[Serenitynow109]

Those line ports and trunks do not come equipped. You need to buy keycodes if you desire that functionality

 

[acewarlock]

Only for the base unit, if you use the expansion unit then you just use modules.

 

[Serenitynow109]

i dont think expansion will be in play on a CICS customer

 

[acewarlock]

Were talking BCM here. You buy a base unit and an expansion unit, you only need keycodes for the main unit. s if you need more than 12 Digital stations then you would need an expansion unit so just use a 32 DSM in a expansion unit.

 

[Serenitynow109]

I'm aware that the talk is centered around BCM. But if you read the first post you will note the customer was going with a CICS and Call Pilot, probably the bundle, and was concerned with cost, which again might be an issue when going towards a BCM50

 

[cobac]

The way I am figuring now:

BCM 50 Base Unit with Power - $822
BCM 4 seat voicemail key - $300
BCM 4 seat UM key - $220

I'm not sure, but I don't believe the unit comes with keys for 4 POTS lines or IP Phones...so I believe that would have to be added on as key codes too, no?

If everything is under 2k for equipment I think it would be a smarter move to wait for the BCM to be released...

 

[Serenitynow109]

Yes it does. From Nortel, MSRP is 198. Part# NTKC0237- Enables 4 analog trunk ports on the BCM50 main chasis. As far as the sets, you need keycodes for the IP Telephony Client. One seat Auth code goes for 153, Nortel MSRP

 

[cobac]

Thanks for the info.... I will wait and cross my fingers they release sometime soon...

 

[Serenitynow109]

I think if you see it by July it would be a miracle