Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!mips!pacbell.com!lll-winken!telecom-request From: umbc3!umbc3.umbc.edu!brian@uunet.uu.net (Brian Cuthie) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Wanted: Recommendations For Small Key-System Message-ID: Date: 12 May 91 15:58:26 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County, Academic Computing Services Lines: 43 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 357, Message 2 of 10 May I suggest looking into the Northern Telecom Norstar system. It is the low end system in the Meridian line. It features phones with alphanumeric displays, LCD line indicators, reconfigurable buttons, millions and millions of software features, and a software module that can be replaced in the future with newer versionbs of the code. Each set is connected via a single pair of wires. The system is ISDN to the sets and internally. Each set get's 2B+D and can use the spare B channnel for simultanious data transmission. There is a developer's kit (which cost megabucks, incidentally) which allows a PC to monitor/control switch operation. In fact, you can even have the PC grab the keypad and interpret keys in some fashion, displaying prompts on the phone's alpha display, and then the PC can set up the call. One PC is capable of providing enhanced features for all phones simultaneously. I have had mine for more than a year now and am EXTREMELY pleased with it/ My only complaint is that the guys at NT are missing the boat by making the developer's kit too expensive (by expensive, I mean to the tune of $25k!). They need to realize that if people buy the kit to develop applications, they can only be run on NT hardware. Therefore, they sell at least one switch for every developed application. Of course, these guys want to get greedy too. I know that they will more than likely read this and say "but it cost us sooo much to support the developers." Bunk! The unbundled price for the developer's kit is on the order of $13K to get the software, documents, some equipment, and support. Then, when you're done developing your app they want another $15K [!!!!] liscense fee just for the *priveledge* of selling NT phone systems with your app wrapped around them! Geesh guys! GET A CLUE! Anyway, opportunities abound if NT ever straightens their act out, or you have a spare $25K lying around. Wishing I did, brian VOICE: 301-381-1718 Internet: brian@umbc3.umbc.edu