OLE@csli.stanford.edu (Ole J. Jacobsen) (06/12/89)
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!!). Ole "Make it as ubiquitous as dialtone!"
jshelton@ads.com (John L. Shelton) (06/15/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0198m05@vector.dallas.tx.us> 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=
egg@att.uucp (06/15/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0198m05@vector.dallas.tx.us> you write: >. . . 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). You might look at AT&T's Spirit and (if it is still around) EKTS. --- Edwin G. Green AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, Illinois, USA IHP 1F-550 312-416-7187 UUCP: att!ihlpl!egg
klb@lzaz.att.com (K.BLATTER) (06/16/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0199m05@vector.dallas.tx.us>, jshelton@ads.com (John L. Shelton) writes: > * 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 think that he is referring to a System 2000 which sells at the local AT&T phone center for $349.95 for a master unit (which one is required) and $219.95 for each extension phone. You can only have a maximum of 2 lines, but I don't know what the maximum number of stations is. I would love to buy a Merlin system for my house, but I can't afford it. (No employee discounts on Merlins :-( ) I guess that I'll have to settle for AT&T 412's. > * 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? Merlin phones (the digital phones, anyway) use a proprietary protocol called DCP (Digital Communications Protocol). I'm sure (although I have no first-hand knowledge) that the button-press information is passed via DCP. Because DCP is proprietary, you won't find the internals discussed anywhere. Sorry. Kevin L. Blatter AT&T - Bell Labs Disclaimer: My employer has never asked me to speak for it and therefore I only speak for myself.
dave@rutgers.edu (Dave Levenson) (06/16/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0199m05@vector.dallas.tx.us>, jshelton@ads.com (John L. Shelton) writes: ... > * Merlin phones can be used on larger systems, like AT&T System 75 > and System 85 PBXs. ... No, the multi-button sets which work with Merlin are analog sets with a digital signaling system for sending button stimuli, and receiving lamp updates. The similar-looking multi-button sets sold with System 75 and 85 are digital sets that encode the voice as well as the signaling information into an ISDN-like bit-stream. The Merlin sets do, however, work with System 25 -- a true PBX with some key-system features. On this switch, the voice gets digitized by the port circuit in the switch, not in the telephone set. -- Dave Levenson Voice: (201) 647 0900 Westmark, Inc. Internet: dave@westmark.uu.net Warren, NJ, USA UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave [The Man in the Mooney] AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave