sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems ESI Telephones & Systems New Norvergence KSU/phones Still in business???

Someone offered to sell me an uninstalled Norvergence system that is sitting there in boxes with phones.

This was supposedly made by ESI. Is Norvergence still being sold? Are there still dealers? I never heard of this stuff before.

Thanks, Bunnie

Bunnie:

From what I have heard, Norvergence went through a HUGE, ugly bankruptcy. I have two customers who signed up for their service packages (local, LD, DSL and cellular). When the company went under, their creditors came after the customers directly looking for early cancellation fees, defaulted equipment leases, etc. Yes, the company leased hardware to provide the network and infrastructure, and somehow, their agreements had some fine print somewhere that the customer signed where they were actually on the hook in the event that Norvergence defaulted.

The customers had to scramble to get new services, which both did with other providers. From what they have told me, they were looking into a class-action lawsuit, but I don't know whatever became of it.

Their monthly package was just too good to be true, something like $99.00 with unlimited local, long distance, DSL and cellular. That's all I really know......They were never approached for actual phone systems, but one guy told me that the "Nor" in the name somehow implied that it was a Nortel operation. I don't know how valid that comment was though.

Hey, if you can pick up the equipment cheap, it might be a collector's item someday.

Norvergance was labling the e-s-class systems, it was a good concept local, long distance, internet,cellular, and phone system in one but from what i remember they miss-spent money. ESI did work with the customers and hooked them up with local dealers, and yes the bank went after the customer for the money. many customers did go without service. they did not do much around here but ESI kept all of the active dealer up to date. here is more info https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/norvergence_nj.html

Norvergence also had the "matrix" which was an Adtran Channel Bank. The sales pitch was basically "lease this MATRIX and we will give you free service"
They used to Lease you the matrix and GIVE you free local, long distance etc. When they went bankrupt there was no More Free stuff (the T1 that made it work) but the leases were bought up by collection agiences and new leasing companies and guess what the Matrix was still there, useless on the wall but you are Leasing it and responsible for the payments. I know of a hotel that has been paying 1500 a month for at least the past 2 years and have a 5 year lease

1500 X 60 months = $90,000 Not to bad a deal for 3 months worth the free calls

Story link
https://msnbc.msn.com/id/5907255/

If the Norvergence is actually an ESI S-Class with a private label on it, There may be an interest for it if the price is right. Did you get any numbers?

Regarding the "Matrix" unit and the lease, I have a customer who signed up and when everything went bust....the customer is being sued for $80,000.00 for a box that he never used. Still in court. This customer only had 6 lines and a DSL.

Funny. I just had a new customer contact me thru ESI and he has a Norvergence and needed new phones. After talking with my ESI rep I found out that the Norvergence is (as mentioned) an ESI E or S Class GENERATION I switch. So it used the same phones etc, but remember that is is basicly a Gen I box.

Interesting!

I will try to get some part numbers off the boxes on Monday. I did two small ESI systems and decided that was enough, don't want to get back into it again.

You can go crazy trying to support the main stuff you sell, let alone every little system that someone wants you to fix because the other dealer went out of business.

I am looking for 5 CCSDEX Novergence phones. Does anyone know where I can get them?

I'm not sure which specific phones those are (I'm not familiar with the Norvergence part numbers), but your local ESI dealer should be able to get you some that will work. They will be ESI-branded, not Norvergence-branded.