Hi all-

I have a seriously aging System 25 that I use in my office. Currently it is handling 6 loop start trunks , Audix, and a 14 BIS sets.

We all know this system is long dead, but we love the features. I have mountains of backup CP's, 3 spare Audix machines, and about 30 extra sets. Needless to say my paranoia level is high to keep it up and running.

What do you suggest this system be replaced with? Ideally I'd like to keep the sets as they are classics and work well. My first thought was to move to a Definity but do not want to put a bandaid on a gaping wound.

We've looked at IP Office and it's nice, but the phones just aren't up to the old AT&T standards in my opinion.

Features wishlist:
- VM, obviously
- Auto Attendant
- ICLID
- Appearance buttons similar to the BIS series
- Quality sets
- POTS capability for fax, etc

Basically something to replace my "Bessie" and "Ethel" with a system that is solid and will stay working like the 25 has.

Thanks very much-
Jake

With 6 lines and 14 extensions I would recommend the Partner ACS.
It has all the features you are looking but it will be a forklift upgrade. You will not be able to reuse any of you old phones.
Contact your local Avaya Business Partner and they can come out and give you a customized quote.

And welcome to the board!

Thanks Michael, I hadn't thought about the Partner.

Forklift upgrade for sure. Will save on the electric bill too. I hate to see her go, but am afraid she's about to flatline...

The Partner ACS is a feature rich system with CID,VM and many feature you probably haven't even thought of.
Just contact your local Avaya Business Partner and they can come out to you and give you a customized quote.

Here is a link to find the nearest one in you area.
https://mywebtools.avaya.com/bplocator/start.swe?SWECmd=Start

Thanks and welcome to the board.

Mike's suggestion is the best for your requirements.

If you were 100% set on keeping the old Merlin Classic telephones (but could forgo the Caller ID), you would be looking at a Merlin Legend.

Unfortunately the Legend has long been discontinued also.

My first thought was to move to a Definity...

Wow, talk about overkill. We have done residances with 6 lines and more than 14 extensions. Your requirements are not great, I don't know how you wound up with a System 25 even. A Partner would be a perfect fit.


-Hal

"My first thought was to move to a Definity...

Wow, talk about overkill."

Yup, overkill is good. I know and like the features of the 25/75/85 and Definity lines. Trouble is we don't want to be in the same position in a few years.

Merlin Classic is where it all started. I was the phone system admin (among 100 other things) at a previous company and we had the 25. Found one cheap on eBay and used that as an excuse for a trip to New Orleans.

Am not dead set on keeping the telephones, it just seems that there is nothing of that quality and functionality these days.

As for the CID, I used a WhozzCalling box and tied it to a PC with a USB LCD display. Works great but full integration would be nicer.

Thanks guys. -Jake

Am not dead set on keeping the telephones, it just seems that there is nothing of that quality and functionality these days.

The Partner, being an upgrade path from the Merlin and from the same manufacturer, builds on the Merlin features. They have been refined and made more functional. If you are using BIS sets you will know what to do with the Partner sets.

I think what you are really saying is that you are used to those old BIS sets. Get over it, those things are a dime a dozen and the quality really isn't any better than the current Avaya offerings. The Partner sets just don't have a weight inside the bottom to make you think you have something good.

-Hal

Very true. I've used the Partner system and phones at yet another job and they are nice. Used to the BIS, yes, and they look great and very professional. Plus managing AAS and the carrier is something that can be done in my sleep still.

I know that sounds silly but then the $200 extra was worth it to me to get the black MacBook. So naturally the black Partner phones would be my choice.

What is the long term outlook on the Partner? Not so worried about support, but how close they are to end of life. No one has commented on IP Office, which may also be overkill but price is not my concern, just do not know much about it.

-Jake

You certainly can't use your existing Merlin sets on the IP office, so that's really not an option.

I agree with you about the professional styling of the original Merlin sets. I also like the style of the Partner MLS series of phones. If today's sets get any more rounded in shape, they will start to look like footballs.

Hal and Mike may need to correct me here, but aren't the classic Merlin phones supported by the Magix? Discontinued or not, I'd spend my money on a used or refurbished Magix. Why it's discontinued is still a mystery to most of us.

You are right Ed, my BIS sets have a very limited list of systems they work with. IP Office piqued my interest as a newer system and some nice features. It was also recommended to me by one of my customers who is a Definity admin and sqwauked at the idea of my moving to Definity.

More like footballs is not my personal idea of a nice set. They remind me of the free phone Sports Illustrated used to give you with a subscription...

Don't understand why they discontinued the Magix either. From what I know it's a great system.

Magix doesn't support Merlin ATL (the classic BIS sets), however Legend does, all the way to release 7. Which is really not a bad choice.

The Legend was developed by the System 25 team. Programming (unless you use the old action/data) will seem familiar.

If you want to keep the 25 I have a friend with a warehouse full of them I'm sure he would have any parts that you would need PM if you want more info

Wow, did not realise the Legend could handle ATL's - that just might be the ticket.

And good to know parts are available for the 25 to keep it running a little longer.

I really appreciate all your input, guys.

Thanks- Jake

Avaya's current plan is to sell the Partner ACS until 2010.

The Magix was dropped to make way for the IP Office platform. A while ago the question was asked, here in this forum, why Avaya simply didn't modify the Magix to make it IP compatible.

The answer, as I remember it, was that the system's processor would have needed such an extensive overhaul, that it just wasn't worth it.

Partner ACS is probably the least expensive solution for the size of the company. If you have money to burn, then go G350 with an IA770 voice mail. That would be the upgrade path from a system 25 for less than 40 users and keep you on the 25/75/85/definity/Communication Manager platform.

I agree with liquidvw, users that were used to a robust system like the system 25 are straight up going to tar and feather the person that brought them a partner.

As stated by the other techs..the way to go would
be a Legend...you can program the ATL sets to match the S25 program....It amounts to just replacing the brain...everything around the S25 will work with Legend....I don't know what the
pre-occupation with the Partner ACS is all about..The Legend is much more stable and the WinSPM is easiler to use than the Partner Admin
software...I have changed over 20 S25's to Legends and the cutovers are seemless...
If you have anyother ? about the changeover...send me an email.

One of the system requirements was to be able to work with Caller ID.

I'm not sure if ATL sets would show Caller ID information even if the Legend processor was an R7 and Caller ID enabled GS/LS-ID boards were used.

No..ATL sets won't show call ID...you need the
MLX or Magix type sets and ckt packs for that
feature.

Well, it must know we are talking about it. Every day since the first post the alarm buttons lights on the SLAC.

I think we've got it narrowed to the Legend and ACS at this point. Caller ID would be great, but not a must have. I would easily trade CID for being able to keep the ATL sets.

Well, that pretty much sums it up for you...

I always have been fond of the older Merlin Membrane/BIS sets as they have the classier look. While the older membrane sets were not as durable, the BIS sets were much better. I still have a working Legend 7.0 at a site and have had ZERO problems with it. The Legend is also more flexible and will give you more advanced features than a Partner ACS. Just my $.02

Call ID is not that big of a deal...I'd stay with
the ATL sets....you can always change to MLX sets
later..the cost of the CP's is very reasonable...
Refurbed sets are also cheap enough to consider
updating the system...so there you have it.....
A Legend 7.0142 with ATL 4x8 CP's, 0x12 or 0x16
single line packs for the VM and your set...you'll need WinSPM 9.0....good to go...

After reading some of the manuals I've pretty much settled on the Legend. Thanks for the input folks.

To clarify, WinSPM does not require SocketMagix, correct?

Correct, it just uses a serial port and 355 adapter to connect, or a modem and a S/L port.

Socket Magix lets you make the connection via ethernet on your network - completly un-needed

And mighty pricey too!