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From: dam@mtqua.att.com (Daniel A Margolis)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Wanted: Recommendations For Small Key-System
Message-ID: <74318@bu.edu.bu.edu>
Date: 9 Feb 91 12:37:37 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 101, Message 4 of 13


>What's the latest and greatest in small business telephone systems?

> General requirements: 6-8 incoming lines ... 16-20 telephone lines 
> "Normal" features such as intercom, paging, DND, etc.  Ability to 
> connect normal two-wire devices such as FAX, answering machine, 
> cordless phone, etc.  Good value (ie cheap). 

I noticed this article asking about small phone systems and another
asking the new AT&T PARTNER phone system, so I got some information
from John Bell, a friend of mine and one of the Systems Engineers who
worked on it.  He recommends it (surprise, surprise).  There was an
article in {Teleconnect} about PARTNER.  They liked the product, but
what they really liked is that the engineer's name is Bell.  (He's not
related to Alexander Graham Bell.)

The following is public information, so no need for a disclaimer (and
I've heard that disclaimers don't provide any legal protection
anyway).  As you read on remember that I am somewhat biased, being an
AT&T employee.

Here's what John told me:

1) PARTNER is inexpensive.  (Yes, this is AT&T we're talking about.)

2) Each port can handle a proprietary phone, a regular tip-ring phone,
   or both, without any adapters (which are often expensive).

3) PARTNER goes up to 4 CO lines and 12 extensions, while PARTNER PLUS
   goes up to 8 lines and 24 extensions.

If you want to see it for yourself, dial 1-800-247-7000 for the number
of a nearby sales office, where they will have one set up that you can
look over.  They may also have reprints of some of the good press this
product line has received.  Be warned that they may try to sell you
one.  You can also see it in AT&T Phone Centers, but their setup may
not be fully functional.


Dan Margolis

[Author's Note: I fully expect a response from John Higdon on this one.
Please don't beat me up too badly.  I know you're a Panasonic man.]