AG 1994 05 02 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

EVALUATION OF TELEPHONE SYSTEMS for CABARRUS COUNTY HOME HEALTH AGENCY Sheet 2 of 3 TECHNICAL COMPARISON--Both systems proposed are software driven, digital domestic systems. The Norstar has been in production longer with a larger installed base. There are numerous ways to make a technical evaluation and, for the purpose of this report, we are focusing on a few key issues. GROVVTH--The Norstar can have a maximum of 128 ports, which means that you can expect typical growth to 32 lines and 88 telephones. The Comdial can have a maximum of 224 ports, with typical growth to 32 lines and 144 stations. This means that the Noi'star probably will not meet your estimated growth re0uirement of approximately 100 telephones. The Comdial system will more than meet growth requirements. FUNCTIONS--Only 6 lines can be directly terminated on the Norstar M7208 telephones recommended. The Comdial system can have up to 24 lines terminated on the 24 line LCD sets used in the financial comparison to follow. This gives the Comdial the advantage of lower line rates (as discussed in the cost analysis section) with more single button speed dial access on each telephone as an additional convenience to the users. The LED lamps on the Comdial are usually easier to read than the LCD lamps associated with Norstar keys. In summary, the Norstar is one of my favorite telephone systems in the right applications. Your growth requirements and the fact that the number of lines you need can not be directly connected on the Norstar telephones make the Norstar a weaker alternative in CCHHA's application. VENDOR SUPPORT--I Called Bruce Northrop with Digitel USA before close of business on Wednesday, 4/6/94 to ask about who would install and maintain the proposed system. His reply was that a team would be dispatched from Atlanta for the initial installation and user training. They would make arrangements with a local dealer (which would probably be in the Charlotte area) for any future routine installation and maintenance of the system, He was unable to tell me who the local vendor would be and promised to call back with this information. The Concord Telephone Company is a local company with service personnel and spare parts located 5 minutes from your office. They handle their own leases and are liberal in granting upgrades to other systems at reasonable rates should their customers need to change to a different system before a lease expires. CTC's service will be very important to CCHHA in meeting your responsibilities during the life of the system(s) under consideration. Their charges for additions to the system should be lower due to