Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: jshelton@ads.com (John L. Shelton) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: AT&T and the 'Simple PBX' Market Message-ID: Date: 14 Jun 89 22:29:39 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Reply-To: "John L. Shelton" Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mt. View, CA (415) 960-7300 Lines: 61 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 199, message 5 of 8 In article OLE@csli.stanford.edu (Ole J. Jacobsen) writes: >X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 198, message 5 of 6 >A while back, there was some discussion about AT&T PBX equipment (Merlin and >the like). I'd like to point out that while Merlin offers great features >(we have one at work), it is probably the most expensive system you can buy. >(The cheapest Merlin phone is over $200, a "reasonable" one, the kind most >employees would want (BIS-22) is $395). For larger businesses this is probably >OK, but I am really surprised that AT&T hasn't entered the "simple PBX" >market. Panasonic has a 6 CO line, 16 extension system for about $700, >it requires only one "wizard's console" and supports *standard >telephones* (my rotary phones from the 30's and 40's work just fine). >Again, you cannot fault AT&T for quality, but I really wonder about >their pricing (look at what they charge for a FAX machine these days!!). * merlin isn't a PBX; it's an electronic Key system. Admittedly, the boundary between PBX and EKTS is fading, but generally, in a PBX, routine calls are placed to other extensions, and outside calls are dialed with an access code (like 9). PBX users generally don't have access to a specific line, and can't tell when a line is in use. PBXs are geared for lots of single-line phones. An EKTS generally has multi-line phones, and users compete for the outgoing lines. Users either shout at each other (because the office is small) or use one of several intercom lines. * I like my Merlin system. I compared it with many others, and found it unbeatable, except for price. I was interested in top-quality performance, lots of features, flexibility, expansion. (8 phones at home is NOT enough.) * I agree that prices are a bit high. The cheapest phone (5 programmable buttons, plus a number of feature buttons) is around $200, but is widely available used, and there are discounters offering 25% off Merlin systems and components. * Merlin phones can be used on larger systems, like AT&T System 75 and System 85 PBXs. * Merlin will support single-line phones, but it costs around $300 to support these. (Of course, you could have multiple phones on each adapter.) With this arrangement, you have access to all the features that a multibutton phone has. * After writing to AT&T to complain about prices, marketing strategy, etc, I was reminded that they do have two lower priced products: Spirit, a system with 80% of Merlin's features, but only two styles of phone. Pricing is about 20 - 30% less than comparable Merlin systems. The other one escapes me, but is a simple 2-line system that works over standard inside wiring. (would work well at home.) I had suggested to AT&T that they market Merlin for home use, but they countered that most people don't have 4 pair wires running from each room to a central location. * I'll repeat a request from the past: Does anyone know the protocol Merlin phones use to transmit button-press information back to the central unit? =John Shelton=