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Software Customization
US Software Packaging Structure:
Because not all customers and customer needs are the same, Meridian 1 system software allows users to customize their software to meet their organization's needs. This customization comes in the form of not only customizing feature sets, but also the size of the system as well.
Size Customization:
Meridian 1 system software is the only software in the telecommunications industry which allows customers to optimize the size of their software to meet their capacity needs. This is done by using what we call Terminal Number Pricing or "TN Based" Pricing. With TN based pricing, small and large customers pay for software based on the total number of hardware connections (TNs) they have on their system. This not only allows customers to minimize their software costs and but also provides them a scaleable and predictable expansion path for the future.
Feature Customization:
The world is filled with opposites and system software is no exception. Customers want the ability to customize their software to meet their own specific needs, while at the same time they want software which is simple to understand and order. Taking these conflicting needs into account, we at Nortel have developed a software packaging strategy to address both of these ever present issues.
Meridian 1 Option 11C Compact Software Packages:
The Meridian 1 Option 11C Compact operates on X27 software, a sub-set of the features currently available on Option 11C. Option 11C Compact features and applications are designed to benefit general business organizations. Two software packages are available to meet the needs of single and multi-site businesses: the Office Communications Package and the Inter Office Communications Package.
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Office Communications Software Package: The solution for single site businesses, and comes standard with every Option 11C Compact system. This package includes over 100 features including: voice messaging, Auto Attendant, ACD call center, Digital public network access, and Meridian Administration Tools (MAT).
- Inter Office Communications Package: Includes all the features in the Office Communications software package and more, for a multi-site environment. The Inter Office Communications package is used to connect multiple Meridian 1 Option 11C Compact locations or for branch offices that are a part of the Meridian 1 network. Features in this package include ISDN private networking and voice mail messaging for up to 10 sites.
Meridian 1 Option 11C Software Packages:
The Option 11C system addresses the customization versus simplification issue by providing four simple packages which are built on top of one another. Each of the four packages are designed with the needs of specific customers in mind. The four packages are outlined below:
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General Business Software Package: Comes standard with every Meridian 1 Option 11C system. This package includes a wide range of system, attendant, and station features for desktop control, plus support for voice messaging, basic call centers, system administration, and a comprehensive hospitality set. This feature set is designed for the small customer who is looking to provide basic telephony features to a single site.
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Enhanced Business Software Package: This powerful package starts with the features in the General Business package, then extends to include basic ISDN services (Basic Rate and Primary Rate), calling line identification enhancements, Meridian Companion, and call center management tools such as reports, status displays, and dynamic system reconfiguration. The Enhanced Business package is the perfect solution for single-site businesses that require more advanced features in their communications system.
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Enterprise Business Package: Takes the Meridian 1 Option 11C software to the next level of sophistication. It includes all features in the General and Enhanced Business packages plus network efficiency enhancements and advanced system applications. The Enterprise Business package is ideal for multi-site businesses where the network is the communications focus.
In particular, the enterprise business packages include the ability to network with ISDN. With ISDN, you can integrate geographically dispersed locations so that all sites act as if they were a single location. In addition, services such as Meridian Mail can be centralized to reduce costs without reducing the quality or level of service provided. For example, full access to a central Meridian Mail voice messaging system means remote sites no longer have to support separate Meridian Mail systems, thereby reducing cost while providing the same level of service as if each location had its own Meridian Mail system.
The Enterprise Business package supports many other sophisticated capabilities. Meridian Link supports integrated telephone/computer applications. Customer Controlled Routing and/or Network Automatic Call Distribution features provide sophisticated call routing and specialized customer treatment in call center or telemarketing environments. Interactive Voice Response can improve your customer service by providing faster and more uniform response to callers.
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Network Attendant Service/Virtual Network Service: This is the most advanced Meridian 1 Option 11C feature set. This package provides Network Attendant Service (NAS) between Meridian 1 systems within your network. Whether attendants are distributed throughout various locations or centralized at a single site, NAS can route incoming calls in a wide variety of options providing the caller with consistent, high-level attendant service. It will always appear to the caller that the attendant is located on-site. Virtual Network Service (VNS) provides private network ISDN features using public network facilities. This feature extends the benefits of Meridian 1 ISDN PRI applications without the need for a dedicated network between Meridian 1 systems.
Meridian 1 Option 51C, 61C, 81, and 81C Software Packages
As your enterprise grows larger and larger, the need for increased customization in your enterprise communication system grows as well. System software addresses this issue in Meridian 1 Options 51C through 81C by providing one base software package with additional feature packages orderable on an individual basis. By utilizing this philosophy, all customers receive a comprehensive initial feature set which provides services (see examples below). Customers in larger, more specialized environments, can then add specific feature packages (see examples below) to meet their individual enterprise needs. Conceptually, here is how this packaging strategy works:
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