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Would you migrate to UCx or Shortel 1

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lvNortel

lvNortel

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Dec 8, 2012
298
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I have installed Nortel for years and it is solid as a rock. I have so many systems and handsets etc. installed.

I am looking to the future, what would you do? Migrate to UCx or Shortel or someone else? I must have something to work with that is equa or better in reliability, ease of customer use etc, etc. to replace my beloved Nortels.

What have you done?

Thanks
 
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Hey lvNortel,

-Well let me give you my honest opinion, with Shortel, you cannot reuse any Meridian sets, you cannot use Nortel Unistim IP sets, and I don't know if you can use Nortel SIP sets on Shortel.
-Shortel phones are completely different than the Nortel phones on the UCx....so you'd have to retrain all of your clients on how to use their phones again...with UCx, you are basically swapping out the Control Unit to Call Server and features stay the same, and even more robust features are added.
-With Shortel, you have a company that was formed 10-15 years ago....with UCx, it's developed by Nortel engineers with years of experience at Nortel
-Collaboration with Avaya....Avaya actually supports the UCx Call Center application

On UCx: You can use 3rd party SIP phones by Grandstream, Cisco 79xx SIP (and all SIP phones on the UCx, SCCP is under development), Avaya 96xx SIP phones and basically any phone that supports SIP protocol.
-The UCx has been developed by former BCM/CS1000 engineers from Nortel, with many combined years at Nortel.
-The phones and features work as though a BCM or CS1000 is combined...or you can set up your system to solely mimic a BCM only or a CS1000 only.
-Nortel features you are already familiar with on the Norstar such as 3 digit parking, Music on Hold, Paging, Feature access codes, work very similar to the Norstar set up.
-Additional Cs1000 features such as Call Center, Call buzz, Set based configuration (key click tones, time and date adjustment, Feature Softkeys (not just a plain feature key) can be implemented.
-System upgrade downloads can automatically be done right from the GUI within 2-3 minutes, as opposed to the hours it took the BCM for upgrades.
-An easy to use Web based GUI replaces Element Manager, and changes are instantaneous.
-Most of all, you still get to use your trusty RLS button....something all of these new systems LACK! LOL :)

So basically I am sold on their system. The system I have here in my home lab exceeds if not blows away the BCM 6.0 I have set up here at my place as well. At first I was reluctant to get rid of my BCM, so I still have it setup with one phone.....but other than that, I rely on my UCx.

Take a look at my signature below!

Thank you!

****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
 
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Let me add one more thing!

I've had my UCx set up since December of 2011. Knock on wood, I've had no system outages...it's rock solid. You do have to have good internal network infrastructure! I recommend Nortel and Avaya POE switches....but I am sure Cisco will work just fine too.

I'd also recommend you get static IP's from your ISP.....so if you want remote users (I have friends in Prague Czech Republic, Seattle, Indiana, across town in Chicago that have remote Nortel IP phones) to be able to log into the system, all you have to do is give them your networks external IP address and you set your remote phones S1 and S2 address to your external IP address and they are in business. It's pretty cool, I have an 1150E with 2 sidecars and I can monitor if my friend in Prague is on the phone, or in Seattle.





****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
 
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I have looked very closely at E-Metrotel. While i like their system I don't like their channel partner setup.

You must buy a demo kit just to evaluate it and it is not returnable, I also find them expensive. As well you must buy support from them for every system, even if if you are channel partner.

I much prefer Allworx's channel partner model.

Marv ccna
 
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Marv does the allworx platform support third party sip phones? If so, which brands?

Also, what is the allworx company? Do they interface well with Nortel products? Do they have the same features and operations as a Nortel switch so retraining employees on a new system is minimal?



****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
 
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The bottom line ( dollars ) is a concern for me. I am so use to the ease of installation and programing with MICS and CICS NAM and CP and the availability of preowned and beautiful refurbished equipment that I can get on the open market for pennies on the dollar. There are so many parts for sale from companies like RefurbSupplies.Com.

The cost of some of this new equipment is pretty steep. I am not bound by Nortel never have been as far as installing thier line or even upgrading or adding on to it. I like all the Nortel style features but these suppot and reseller rescrictions for channel parters you mentioned concerns me.

I make a very good living seling Nortel systems and I do not see the line becoming completly obsolete for at least another 10 years. Most of my customers are small and midsize companies that have no need for the complex features offered so the networing, Ip or SIP functions are of no use for my client base. I am still not sold on the reliabilty of anything else except for good old traditional POTS and PRI service. I have heard to many complaints about this form of technology. The words "fail over" are just not in my sales pitch.
 
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Another note. This forum alone is loaded with year and years woth of data, troubleshooting etc. on the Nortel line and the new forum for eMetrotel has just started.
 
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I'd stick with legacy Nortel over going to Shortel then. You are right about the pennies on the dollar. A friend wanted me to install an in house wall intercom system for him for $1000. I said wait, let's get a Norstar system on eBay and we found one for $25 with free shipping. Then we bought a slough of black m series phones for $20. Shop supplies about $50 as well, so for about $100 we cabeled his 3 story house and installed 15 phones on the DR3 system. Better yet he is voip for trunking....lol....we bought a Cisco spa voip ata adapter and set him up for sip trunking and he is able to use sip trunking on his 1991 Norstar system. So if you like Nortel and simple calling features you'll have no problem finding the equipment. Teletech is a company I use, look them up on eBay :)

Joe

****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
 
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Joe,
Allworx does not support digital phones. They have their own line of IP phones but they also support SIP phones. I've not seen one that will not sync up, including softphones.

I like E-metroltel for their ability to use Norstar phones. But unless you have a BCM in which you can change the HD for one for the UCX you must buy gateways to run the digital phones and POTS lines. I haven't evaluated the UCX for the reasons above. I couldn't justify the expense for a demo unit just to see if i liked it.

Can the UCX run as a key system with the Norstar phones, or is it strictly a PBX?

Marv ccna
 
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I keep thinking about what do most customers use their phones for and do they really need all of these fancy features? Don;t most systems already address the majority needs of most customers?

Do most customers really need VOIP features and how about the reliability of the internet in providing srvice as stable and reliable as the PSTN?
 
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The main point for most customers these days is the option to make and receive calls with the ability if required to transfer to a mobile/cell phone or a voicemail system.
Price is the main issue here bearing in mind that most customers are feeling the pressure and strain with little money to spend.

Features aren't always the top selling point as most aren't used. As far as new systems are concerned, it depends on a number of factors such as company size/ number of phones and type and number of trunks etc. Also security and if other sites need to be joined or linked up as well as remote home working etc.

I've seen Shortel and was very impressed with the way it was so simple to install and maintain. Also the way the IP Phones would be transferred to another site if one of the main CPU's was out of action. The phones looked simple and did the job.

I've also seen a Mitel 3300 and again was impressed with the ease of installation and in today's enviroment, these are important to bear in mind as more and more customers want to do admin work and take control of their phone system.

The Shortel I saw did a mixture of digital and analogue lines. I'm told that the UCX doesn't do analogue lines. Until they start realising that this is still a requirement for some customers to have a need for analogue extensions and lines, then they won't be able to grab the market that was once the Norstar / BCM domain.

I have a test BCM 50 at release 2 with a variety of configurations and lines etc. I'd like to give the UCX a go over here in the UK, but as stated above the initial outlay does seem to me to be a little steep.



All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

If it's working, then leave it alone!.
 
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Yes, I agree. Really the biggest questions I get are can I transfer a call to my cell phone via my voice mailbox or have the recpt. trnafer it for me. Of course Centrex transfer has been able to do this for a very long time and the other is doees it have Music on Hold. Really that is the biggies.

Almost all of my clients are POTS analog lines. Cox is dirt cheap about 15.00 per line and loaded withe their Voice Manager features. Century Link on the other hand is about 29.00 per analog line. Go figure!

If eMetrotel does not support anlog then they are outo fo the picture for me until they do. That is crazy, what do I tell a pizza shop or a smal doctors office? Sorry you got to get a PRI for 400.00 per month?
 
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Hey Guys,

I hear some of your concerns....but some of your information is old.

Allworx, a lot of new features and capabilities have been introduced, especially with the new 50E with integrated analog and PRI cards, the offering has improved. Also rules for the demo kits have changed considerably as well.

Recently E-Metrotel has started providing integrated analog trunks. They have been supporting analog phones for a while. I even hooked an old WE Rotary phone today and it worked with dialtone and ringing.

In regards to the key system set up, it's being worked on and it will be available early next year. From what they told me, Features such as Trunk Line Appearance for SIP, PRI and Analog are being worked on and will be available in January or February.

I am pretty sure if you have a feature in mind and you ask E-Metrotel, they will work to implement it....nothing is in stone, not like the Big Red or Big Grey, that is not doable or so expensive to do. I have my faith in them as a solid Nortel guy....







****New Forum - E-Metrotel UCx****
Joseph Sus-Nortel Installer/Programmer-"JoetheUCxguy" on Youtube
 
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Check out the ip office

You can reuse all the nortel phones



ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel

ACIS
 
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I have also heard nothing but great things about shoretel

Only downfall is they are quite pricey

ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel

ACIS
 
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In response to the statement "You can reuse all the nortel phones" on IP Office, that is true but you lose most of the Nortel Feature set. Some of the features will still work but many are gone or are different. Voicemail features are completely different and nothing like Norstar/Call Pilot.

Our company was a Nortel only shop for years. When Nortel tanked, we took on ShoreTel. It has been a great system and a very good seller. Most customers fall in love with the ease of programming the ShoreTel. The biggest drawback of ShoreTel is that it is geared ideally for businesses with at least 50 or more phones. It is not very cost effective for smaller businesses.
 
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I am in the process of switching a little over 30 sites from Nortel to ShoreTel. We had option 11's and BCM's. with locations from 5 phones to 200 phones. I cant believe how smooth the ShoreTel goes in. its easy to maintain, and seamless as far as calling site to site.
I have been a Nortel tech for all of my phone tech years, was hard mentally for me to make the change. Now im sitting at my desk, drinking coffee out of an orange ShoreTel mug.
 
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