BCM 450 now GA

[NARSBARS]

Anyone else get a look at the 450 or the 450 docs? Conference calling up to 300 users? The specs look so good I am wondering where the Gotcha is hiding.

Anyone have one yet?

NARSBARS

 

[pccal]

The gotcha will be "We just got your customer to install one of these things so that we can work the bugs out." I am crossing my fingers not to have to put one of these in for at least one year. The patches have already started to be posted by Nortel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KE407122]

Ouch!
And I thought it was just me getting mean and embittered towards (name-witheld) and the propensity for release prior to testing.

Relentless patching; this is hardly the way to instill product loyalty or confidence. Regardless of the PR spin that this is "responsive" to a customer need. To the field technicians and the users everything just starts to look premature and half-baked.

I will probably have about 10 going in over the next year.




KE407122


When I find myself on the road less travelled, it just means I'm lost.

 

[DigitelD]

What about Microsoft? I finally setup my laptop to not download updates. Has anyone noticed how many updates that they have each month?

SHK Certified (School of Hard Knocks)
NCSS

 

[NARSBARS]

pccal,
So don't be shy, tell us how you really feel about being an unpaid test case. (insert smiley here).

I am hoping that this is more of an architechture change to accomodate increased capacity and won't have too many bugs bugs bugs.

I also trust the government and think the IRS is my friend.

NARSBARS

 

[hawks]

Don't think it's just Nortel, i think I read where Apple had patches for their new 3g phones almost as soon as they released the phone for sale.
Yes and to go along with what Digital is saying about automatic updates. Remember about a year or two ago with the java auto update. How many people went crazy with their call center? Looks like the price we pay for technology. But hey look at all the fun we are having......

 

[NARSBARS]

At least Nortel has not followed the model of so many software providers. No support without pay. I use a software, initial only PP12 that has NO support from day one. You buy it and you want support, you pay.
Nortel still fixes problems.

NARSBARS

 

[pccal]

I am certainly not complaining as these BCM problems are paying to put my kids through college. The overtime servicing these things is great!!!!!!

 

[KE407122]

Meanwhile the overtime just keeps on coming and the phones still don't work.

Wasn't it IBM and Microsoft who dreamed up this ITIL- Zen and the Art of IT Maintenance. "Forget the technology, I need a quality relationship with my client."

And what the client really wanted was DIAL TONE.



KE407122


When I find myself on the road less travelled, it just means I'm lost.

 

[NARSBARS]

Hey, other than the 450 what am I missing? I have about thirty five BCMs in place that have been in for years. I have no trouble with them, no more service calls, and find them 95% as reliable as a bog standard MICS. the 5% problems is due to the BFT issues in the past.

Where are you seeing all these problems?

NARSBARS

 

[pccal]

I guess they are getting more reliable but are very labour intensive to do any kind of upgrade or patching.I work for a large telco that services hundreds of these systems & a lot of our customers are Banks,Schools or large chain stores.They do not want any sevice dissruptions during 9 Am
to 8 PM busines hours. Almost any BCM 50 Patch requires a total reboot of the system & is at the customers request done after hours.The BCM 400's require reboots that only reboot the drive but that leaves Call Centers,Voice Mail &
any other application out of service. Once again must be done after hours. I think you see why we call them "Big Cash Makers"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not BCM'S. Like I said I am not complaining only happy that Nortel has developed a product that is paying for my children's University education.

 

[gberger]

Can't wait to install one..

 

[KE407122]

Over 200 of them and I can't use the adjective reliable yet.

Oh joy, another version of Element Mgr available today... I'm currently on 50.6.7.0. I wonder if my BCM monitor 43.1.14.27 will work again. Since the last 'improvement' ---BCM Monitor, I get a system error and Monitor shuts down or after a while it doesn't update properly--Line Monitor. (It will show time elapsed continuing yet the call had disconnected long before.)
















KE407122


When I find myself on the road less travelled, it just means I'm lost.

 

[DigitelD]

NARSBARS, I am not seeing much trouble out of our BCM's either. We have some locations that I haven't been to in a long time, some don't call unless there are changes.

SHK Certified (School of Hard Knocks)
NCSS

 

[KE407122]

I agree there is much about the system I like, even though I was never a big fan of Norstar or Vantage systems but that had more to do with programming overlay rather than reliability.

I don't like it but accept that we are faced with continual updates and patching but the vendor hasn't changed their mindset regarding servicing this product. They are playing dumb bunny on repairs and reinventing the wheel on known issues at each site. Echo was addressed on SU 6 or 7, but each site requires 3 or more repair calls on a newly installed system and only with a frustrated escalation are systems patched. By then, the client has lost confidence in us and the product.

To Nortel's credit, we have raised at least three issues that were corrected on subsequent service updates. But Nortel is a 1000 miles away and my client is armed and in my face.




KE407122