Q: We are getting alarmed and confused as to the need to upgrade our Definity to the CM4 IP system. We have no additional requirements of our current system but are told it will no longer be supported, we don’t have the option to upgrade to the software version that is still supported, and will need to upgrade to the completely new CM4 IP system. Because of this we are looking at competing systems because we’re not eager to upgrade to another system that will in time also be among those no longer supported by the OEM. What are our options?
A: The above is a compilation of a couple of questions we’ve been asked by several companies. Without a lengthy conversation either in person or over the phone, it’s not easy to answer, but we’ll try.
If you have the system that suits your operations and have no need of major changes, you have two options. First is to change your maintenance coverage to a provider that has the capability to fully cover your existing Definity and peripherals. The OEM is not the only game in town. There are several who are fully capable and some who offer better service than you’re accustomed to getting, probably at a reduced price. We include ourselves at that level.
Second is do the upgrade as has been suggested, thus continuing your ability to get coverage from the OEM. If you choose this you don’t need to throw everything out of the window and start over, which is what you would have to do if you decide to go with any other competing vendor. You will be able to continue using existing voice terminals (telephones), probably port carriers (your Common Control carrier would be changed to interface with the CM4 processing element), circuit packs, and any peripherals such as Audix voicemail.
This is a huge consideration as this constitutes roughly 70-90% of the cost of getting to a system supported by other OEMs. Note that above I said “probably” when referring to the port carriers. As of 2009, the OEM has projected to cease supporting the MCC (refrigerator-size) cabinet. Even if this becomes the case it’s merely a change of carrier types, as there is just the requirement to change to 19” rack-mounted carriers, a fairly easy and straight-forward change and not overly costly. If you decide to do this upgrade, you will have your basic existing system but a new processing element of the CM4, which essentially just replaces three or four circuit packs in your Definity – Processor, Network Control, Tone-Clock and perhaps a Processor-Interface or a daughter-board of one of the previous circuit packs. In the past an upgrade might only consist of software changes, or at most replacement of the circuit packs just mentioned. Once this upgrade is accomplished you should be good for OEM support for some years to come.
But don’t forget you can opt out of upgrading and still get coverage for your existing Definity for many years to come. And if you still don’t want to deal with the OEM, many of us are able to upgrade you to the CM4.
Finally, we have noted that virtually all of the OEMs are dropping coverage/support for their classic systems, so to move to another platform won’t remedy that problem. As always, if I haven’t convinced you that sticking with your existing system either through the OEM or some of us who will still support the Definity, give me a call to further discuss it.
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