Will IPO end the Merlin?

[aarenot]

I wonder if the Merlin series will continue to sell in light of the IP Office. The Merlin has many more systems in the field, but is it being sold as a core product any longer, and if so, for how long. What do you see as the future, will it continue to be a focus of sales in the industry, or will the VOIP products over shadow it? I think it has many years of service left for systems in the field, just wonder about future sales.
For installers, are you still selling them, and along side IPO sales, or without offering the IPO as an alternative solution? Just curious to see what is happening out there.

 

[1043]

Rumor has it that the Maqix is slated to be replaced by the IP Office in the near future. Also 9040 are also discontinued this December. (about time)

 

[ThePhoneMn]

Its a shame, but the Merlin's days are numbered. The Merlin is such a solid product. You install it and never have to update firmware, or tell the customer that the issue's they are having cannot be fixed until Avaya release's a patch.

 

[aarenot]

I like the Merlin, but it is not user friendly for customer programming at all. The programming interface and set up is cumbersome to be generous in its evaluation.

ROCK SOLID THOUGH!

 

[1043]

If it was user freindly, we wouldn't be needed. Ha. Ha.

 

[merlinman]

I can agree with that statement only as far as it applys to those who are not trained.

Try programming an NEC I Something or other.

More cryptique than ancient hyroglyphs. (Or how ever that's spelled).

The Legend/Magix programming is a BREEZE with just a little training and practice. (NOT FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUALS THOUGH!)

 

[aarenot]

Manual? The magix comes with a manual? I thought you were just supposed to click things in winspm until it did what you wanted.
Seriously, I am adequate with the magix with little training. I do not think outside the lines much with it, that is when I consider myself better than adequate, when the manual says it can't, or does not say you can, but I say I can.

 

[merlinman]

Well, yes, it requires a LOT of OUTSIDE THE LINES/BOX to make it do all of its tricks.

Again, another reason why I just gotta' write "Legend for Dummies".

 

[IPhello]

Last time I was at Avaya (July). I was told they were not putting any more money into the development of Merlin or Partner. It is all going to IPO

 

[Dexman]

If Avaya is serious about ending the Partner ACS product line, they stand to lose some business.

Many churches, non-profit organizations and "mom & pop" outfits, simply cannot afford the high prices of IP-based gear. Toss in vendor's fees to install & maintain a system and you end up with an initial dollar amount that simply cannot be justified by these smaller outfits.

For what it's worth, if I had to choose between cutting the Partner ACS or the Merlin Magix, I'd keep the Partner ACS due strictly to its low up-front cost and wealth of features. The Magix is much more flexible but, compared to the Partner ACS, new hardware is more expensive and priced in the ballpark of IP-based gear.

 

[Tripoth]

Merlinman, if you ever put out a legend/magix for dummies book, let me know.
Not that I am a dummy (that is what I keep telling myself), but because there are so many tricks and work-arounds for the product that I don't know about.
I like the Merlin too.
Kinda is a fun switch to program.
As for the NEC, cryptographers have problems with them......

 

[tdaugirdas]

With ALL the PROBLEMS I hear about Avaya's IP Office products - they will be shooting themselves in the foot BIG TIME if they eliminate Magix/Partner. Since my trusty old Merlin 1030 is still running just fine - I suspect Legend/Magix/Partner systems will be around (with or without Avaya) for a very long time!

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[mitch1099]

Yes. dropping the Partner & the Magix would be a bad idea right now. The IPO needs a lot of work.

And for keeping the Partner & dropping the Magix that would also be a bad idea in light of a few things. Like the Partner's caller ID is so bad you might as well not have it, Partner can only do DID over T1 & only 16 channels. Partner coverage is not great, remote call forward is not great, & it's size is just too small for many of my customers.

 

[Dexman]

How much longer Avaya continues to make new Magix hardware available may hinge on how much demand there is for it.

If vendors are selling less and less Magix hardware, and more and more IP hardware, guess where Avaya is going to spend those R&D dollars!

It's true that the Magix bests the Partner on many levels, but the Magix & Partner are aimed at different market segments. Very few companies that require T1 service would be best served by a Partner ACS. On the other hand, not many outfits with 4 or 5 employees would need a system with the complexities or price tag of a Magix.