Which System to Buy, Compact, CICS, MICS??

[cobac]

Hi All -

I'm pretty new to administering the norstar systems, I'm familiar with Avaya/Lucent/Merlin equipment.

I was wondering what the major differences would be between the compact (3x8, 6x16, 8x24) and the CICS, and MICS units from Norstar.

I've read on there that the 3x8 units can't handle Caller ID on all the handsets at the same time, and I would have to go with a ICS system for this. This is a bummer but unless there are more quirky things like this I can't justify spending more on an ICS system. I don't need T1 service, I am content with a 6x16 system... I"m just concerned with features...

Other than the basics my main concerns are the ability to do calling "queues" where callers can hold for someone to assist them (tech support, sales, etc).. Ability to do a "page all" to the office I'm also looking to integrate with a 3rd party voicemail through the use of a VMI module which I don't think should be a problem as long as the software is a newer version.

I'd also like to use the newer sytle phones but I think those will work with practically any norstar system.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[executone]

The CICS and MICS will give you the most features for the money and newest software. The older systems software stopped at DR5. If you wont ACD features the Call piolet is nice.
For what you are looking for the CICS might be the solution.

Good Luck!!

 

[curlycord]

I agree with exec!
CICS for your size, the CICS can come as 4X8 and upgradable to 8X24 max.
The new Callpilot Voice Mail is better then ever and comes with (CP100) 4ports, 10 mailboxes, AA, CCR and can be upgraded up to 200 mailboxes and a Call Center (ACD) and is a lot cheaper then the old Nortel Flash voice mails.

http://www.spoctel.com

 

[cobac]

Thanks for the suggestions, will definitely be looking at the CICS seems worth it in the long run.

Another question, a client site has a Meridian1 system and when our area switched to required 10 digit dialing they were able to program the area code into the system so there was really no need to dial it.

Is there any way to do this on a Norstar system?

Thanks!

 

[jerryreeve]

On the first question, If you are looking at a CICS even though the restricted software starts out as 4X8 the step up to standard software 8X16 is not that much more while the upgrade to the standard software is close to triple the cost of starting out with standard.(FYI)

As for your second question you are able to create routing tables and destination codes where, for example, any time a user dialed 91 then the routing table could not insert a area code but when a user dialed 92-99 the local area code could be inserted. dialing a 90 would be just passing a 0 out.

JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com

 

[cobac]

Thanks for the info Jerry, it is amazing how the price of the software can jump around...

I like your idea about setting up routing, but I wonder if there is a way to get around dialing the following numbers..

9,911
9,411

I know 411 wouldn't work if the area code was inserted before dialing it, and if you set it to not" insert the area code before any 9,4.. you're callers would have to manually dial the area code for numbers beginning in 9,9 or 9,4..

Thanks for the help...

 

[jerryreeve]

If you want to allow the system to be able to insert and delete digits being dialed out you could do the following. remember that this is kind of an example and yours might be more complex.

dial out: Long distance, Local numbers, special numbers.
destination codes:
dial destination code route table
Dest: absorb: route: Use:
911 911 none 1 Pool A
91212-234-5678 912 1 1 Pool A
91313-234-5678 913 1 1 Pool A
91414-234-5678 914 1 1 Pool A
91515-234-5678 915 1 1 Pool A
91616-234-5678 916 1 1 Pool A
91717-234-5678 917 1 1 Pool A
91818-234-5678 918 1 1 Pool A
91919-234-5678 919 1 1 Pool A
91010222-1-212-234-5678 910 1 1 Pool A
9222-5678 92 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9333-5678 93 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9444-5678 94 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9555-5678 95 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9666-5678 96 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9777-5678 97 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9888-5678 98 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
9999-5678 99 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
90 90 1 2 Pool A insert 1212
411 411 none 1 Pool A


Samples work like this, customer dials 911, its destination code 911 sends the call to route 1 selects pool a and dials out 911.
customer dials 9-1-212-234-5678, its destination code 912 absorbs 1 digit (the 9) sends the call to route 1 which selects pool a and dials out 12122345678.
Customer dials 9-222-5678, its destination code 92 absorbs 1 digit (the 9) sends the call to route 2 which selects pool a and inserts 1212(1 plus local area code) and dials out 12122225678.
Customer dials 411, its destination code 411 sends the call to route 1 selects pool a and dials out 411

This type of routing/destination codes would provide routing no matter what outside number that is dialed.

a note is that you would not hear dialtone after dialing the 9 because at that point the destination codes do not know what route to use yet. after you dial teh second or third digit then the destination code is selected and the insert digits have been dialed so you will not hear dialtone there either.

You build your basic tables by deciding all possible digits that you might dial out and seeing what digit areas might overlap such as 911 and 91212 etc.

JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com