Comparison to other systems - Nortel/Avaya BCM

The Nortel/Avaya Business Communications Manager is one of the most common hybrid systems in Canada. The sale of Nortel Networks PBX division to Avaya has seen the re-branding of BCM products, though the line is scheduled to be discontinued in the near future as its features are merged with Avaya's IP Office. BCM is currently available in two main platforms: BCM50 for SMB, and BCM450 for larger deployments. While BCMs were the logical transition for many older Nortel Key system users, their lack of future compatibility and the cost advantages that they once offered have greatly been nullified by the drastic savings and advances in VoIP technologies like those used as part of Toben systems. Most customers don't realize that today it's often more cost effective and efficient to replace their entire BCM (including phones) with a Toben solution than to attempt to upgrade/maintain and repair their existing system.

Below is a brief comparison of features between Toben and the Nortel/Avaya BCM. Hold your mouse over any Feature to for a more detailed explanation.

Voicemail Features

Feature Toben BCM 50 BCM 450
Available Mailboxes Unlimited Up to 40 with license fees per mailbox. Up to 1000 with license fees per mailbox.
Voicemail/Email Integration Included Included Included
Ability to record calls to voicemail Included Limited, automatically announces to caller upon activation Limited, automatically announces to caller upon activation
Voicemail broadcasting/distribution Included Not Available Not Available
Mailbox sharing Included Possible but cannot notify more than one phone Possible but cannot notify more than one phone
Web-based access to voicemail Included Included Included
Multiple directories for Auto Attendants Included Single Directory Only Available for additional fees
Physical Storage Solid-state (no moving parts) Hard-drive Hard-drive

System Features

Feature Toben BCM 50 BCM 450
Maximum IP phones Mini:50, Base:250 32 192
Maximum SIP trunks Mini:50, Base:Unlimited 12 64
Follow-me call routing Included, Unlimited Can forward to one additional phone number Can forward to one additional phone number
Call Detail Recording Included Included Included
Call Queuing/Agent system Included, Unlimited Requires skillset licenses and fee per agent Requires skillset licenses and fee per agent
Multi-level Auto Attendant Included 1 Attendant Included, fees for additional Attendants 1 Attendant Included, fees for additional Attendants
Remote Desking Included Requires SIP licensing fee per user Requires SIP licensing fee per user
Hot Desking Included Requires phones for every user; no virtual extensions Requires phones for every user; no virtual extensions
Hunt/Ring Groups Included Basic Hunting Only Basic Hunting Only
Blacklisting Per phone and system wide Not Available Not Available
Time-based automation Included Not Available Not Available
Call Parking Included, multiple parking lots Included Included

Admin Features

Feature Toben BCM 50 BCM 450
Admin Interface Web-based, no software required Requires proprietary software client to be installed Requires proprietary software client to be installed
Remote Administration Included Requires additional configuration and offsite software Requires additional configuration and offsite software
Web-based speed dials and programmable features Included Allows access to voicemail only Allows access to voicemail only

Costs

Feature Toben BCM 50 BCM 450
Fee per phone No fee, hardware cost of phone only License-fee per IP user plus cost of phone License-fee per IP user plus cost of phone
Fee per mailbox No fee, unlimited mailboxes License-fee per mailbox License-fee per mailbox
Fee per Trunk No fee for SIP trunks (includes unlimited support) License-fee per trunk License-fee per trunk
Average total cost per phone $150-200 $250-350 $320-450