sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Avaya vs Nortel

Trying to get a good comparison between the Avaya G350/700 and the Nortel BCM400 (MICS). We have over 240 sites that we are looking to roll new phone switches out to. Some are as small as 10 phones, while others are over 100 phones. I have read all the documentation but thought I would look for further information from the people here that install, program, and use these systems.

Nortel MICS hands down.
You'll get less expensive service along with more people who work on Nortel than compared to the Avaya system, you know Avaya...they think the name carries an additional 25 percent in fees.
But that's just my opinion.
As far as how well they work side by side, I believe the equipment is 6's.

Thanks for the info. I know what you mean about Avaya. We added just 30 new Agent licenses and it was only $35,000. What a bargain !!!

I hear that, they are also famous for taking care of you and your problems when they get some time (well...that's how it seems anyway)
I think Avaya's equipment is good but their service...well there really isn't any.
Like I said that's only my opinion.

There are quite a few systems out there beyond the chocolate and vanila flavors of Avaya and Nortel. Many of them will handle 100 sets no problem with as many features without holding the enduser hostage after the fact...ie the 35000.00 license bargain.

Sorry...tripped over the soapbox there

heard if you don't buy the avaya extended service contract techs have to pay for tech support, but avaya gets all the money from the contract. If you do much company to company calling I would suggest systems that can be connected via t1 lines or internet protocal cards. Saves on long distance calls.

Trucker, I hope you aren't serious about limiting your choices to the two biggest flavors in the industry! Like Telcomtex said, chocolate and vanilla aren't the only flavors at the ice cream store. Don't be blinded by big names, and if you have the ultimate decision making power, or at least the ability to influence, use the $35K issue as an example of the bargain you will get dealing with them.

There are a lot of manufacturers (flavors) out there who would truly welcome your company's business. Just about all of them have national dealer coverage programs. Shop around and don't rush to any conclusions. A month or two of time researching beats years of complaints. From what you have indicated, you need to head in another direction and take your time in doing so.

Quite frankly, I don't know how the BIG companies stay in business, in fact they are both struggling and have been for years. Like auto manufacturers though, their names have become so predominant in our society that while the company may fail and go away, their name won't. Someone will just buy the use of it and make money.

Just look at AT&T for example. Once the highest-quality line of products and services in the world. Well worth the extra price; the stuff was really good. Now, their name is now all over cheap imported products, but only as a trademark. AT&T hasn't manufactured their own equipment for years; today, they just reap royalties for the use of thier logo by the highest bidder. Still, the general public recognizes that "big" name as being a stable brand. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Almost all of our new system sales come from recent (I mean REALLY recent, as in not even out of warranty) purchasers of these systems. The customers figure it's cheaper to completely replace the system than to pay the exhorbitant upgrade costs, fees, licenses, contracts, etc.

Do your research and do it well. You will be surprised at what you find.

Seriously Trucker... I have a customer who is getting out of a nortel because the upgrade of the old nortel she has is equal to 2/3 of the cost of the new system I am proposing to her. Much of that cost is software... not even replacing or renewing the old hardware!
There are good and sound alternatives to the Nortel and ATT ur Lucent...I mean Avaya product lines.

I have to agree here... Look around and check out the alternatives offered by other manufacturers.
I would recommend looking at, in no particular order:
Vodavi, Toshiba, ESI, Samsung, Telrad, there are others.

Telrad should also be in that list.