atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems NEC Telephones & Systems NEC Aspire

We are getting quotes for the NEC Aspire system for our new building and the NEC Aspire price is only 60% of the price of the other systems (NEC Neax 2000, another one from Intertel and 3Com).

Why is the Aspire so much cheaper? Btw, we are getting a quote for a phone system with around 50 phones.

The Aspire is a key system, w/ key system limitations. Which these days usually is just related to growth. Key systems have pretty much the sames features as a PBX & sometimes more.
The NEC 2000 IPS is a PBX & you pay for that.
Intertel(a key system) has always been pricey.
3Com has its moments where it is useful, but you are buying the name. I, of couse love the NEC 2000 IPS. I use the IP funtions of the NEC & get great reviews & results. These are, of course, just opinions.

Hmm. What are the key system limitations you are referring to? In terms of growth, our vendor said the system can grow up to 256 phones and that's MORE than enough for our needs. Right now we are looking at a new system because we maxed out our 32 phone capacity!

The Aspire system is really not a Key system it is a Hybrid and as a Hybrid it can be programmed to emulate a PBX or it can be a key system or it can be both.

The Aspire is also IP capable and there is talk of expanding past the 256 station limit in 1st Qtr 2005.

In fact The Aspire is manufactured by NEC Infrontia who is also manufacturing the NEC Elite IPK series.

Having worked on both systems I will tell you that the software is far more capable than the Elite. And as such it can be configured to do many things.


DJ

How's the ease of administration on this unit and is it reliable?

Administration is quite easy as you can program from the desktop via the ethernet port built into the CPU.

As far as reliability I have sold several systems and no return service calls.

DJ

Is there anywhere to get tech manuals on the Aspire? I'm interested in learning more about it. Like the good Dr., I am a big fan of the 2000; I also do a lot of work with IPK's and do both IP and CCIS networking with both. I've actually taught both for years as a contractor for NEC. I am mainly a consultant/freelance project manager who works for NEC dealers; we're considering partnering with a Reseller and would have the ability to sell the Aspire as well as the IPS and IPK. The sales guys I know from the various dealers claim they get killed by the Aspire vs. IPK price comparison. I'd like to know a little bit more about the tech side of the switch.

If you are serious about selling the Aspire systems contact NEC and get the Sales manager for your areas number and contact them directly.


DJ

I have substantial experience with the Aspíre and like it a lot. It is registered as all three types of system: PBX, Hybrid and Key System. Although it can technically provide 256 hard-wired extensions, it could do so only if the system didn't need any trunks.

Jim

I saw this post and it interested me because my company recently tried to become an authorized Aspire dealer but were turned down due to another local company already selling it. We use Vodavi and the TA series Panasonic on the small end and sell Siemens HiPath 3000 for the larger end or if we need to quote a voIP application.
We are not competing well with the Siemens on both price and capability and are looking for something along the same line as the Aspire. It needs to have Key or Hybrid features (lots of programmable buttons, simultaneous internal/external page, flexible voice mail etc.), be able to support IP Hardphones and softphones and grow to at least 120 stations or so. That would fit about 98% of the customers in our area. Any suggestions on systems to look at? I've already inquired about the Vodavi XTS but I don't think it supports IP phones (only system to system IP). Any comments on the Intertel system?

Timbo

1 thing to consider is that the Aspire is a Nitsuko i series on steroids. It is great. I am realizing though that to keep the NEC techs happy the programming is formatted to suit them. In doing so, a lot of the tweaking that could be done on the i series can't be done on the Aspire.
Like the Nitsuko (NEC now) you get A LOT of bang for the buck.
As far as dependability goes, it has really only been around for about a year but both NEC and Nitsuko systems have been ultra-reliable in the past.

Timbo

Is there minimun sales requirements to be a dealer.

Thanks

ttech,
I was going to sell it through a distributor not through NEC direct so we only talked in generalities as far as minimum commitment levels.

Timbo

If you are looking for a good VOIP solution, Check out Artisoft. They have a IPPBX, PBX, VoiceMail, Call Center, Call Recording, Custom IVR Platform. It is an all in one telephony platform. I sell this product & love it. We are winnining deals all the time now with this in our bag.

I've been installing the nitsuko products for 12 years, and as far as durability they have all been workhorses. The new Aspire appears to be continuing that tradition, but time will tell. So far I am really impressed with what this system can do. Both TDM and IP capable for a reletively small cost when comparing to other systems that are as feature rich.

Whe're (a small dutch compagnie) starting up with the Aspire for the more demanding customers. But whe aspect to sell more of the smaller Bosch Aspire. Up to 120 phones and a max trunk of 30 lines. But also VoIP capable.

Ehm stupid mistake, it should be the Bosch Tenovis, ofcourse not the aspire

Are you a regular NEC KTS Reseller? Not to far down the pipe the ECTI will have many of the same feature set as the Aspire.

My company has about 100 Aspire systems installed to date. Both my staff and the customers who use them are extemely pleased. Its reliability and ease of use makes it a first choice for most companies. Whereas it has excellent IP networking capabilities, it is weak using point-to-point T1s. Regardless, to refer to it as a key system is like calling a 1999 Ferrari 355 Spider a used car.

My question is how does the Aspire compare to the Avaya IP Office. I have three of the IP Office systems and in the future want to connect all 13 of my buildings with a fibre ring, so am trying to get the same switches. However cost is also an issue and needs to be considered.

We sell both Apsire and Tadiran..and a few others. The Aspire IS a hybrid and it is ok. Networking is weak IMHO but the flash based VM systems are very good. This system when introduced had so many problems that we almost dumped it but, thank goodness NEC got it together and it seems to be fine now. Some notes on the system:

Web based GUI: Not that great IMHO and definately not user friendly unless you have worked on the Aspire.

Ip Phones: Not bad but nothing to write home about and no where near our other products.

Remote Access: Horrible

ACD Reporting/SMDR: This system TOTALLY lacks from the i-series in this regard.

The system is more of a Hybrid than true PBX. Those that have worked on PBX system will notice that the Aspire has alot of features and quite a few pitfalls. For those that want a cheap system that works well..this is your baby. For people that are more into applications such as ACD or networking or large scale IP deployment, this is not the system to cut the mustard IMHO. I have over 100 Aspires in the field and I am a certified tech.

We sell both Apsire and Tadiran..and a few others. The Aspire IS a hybrid and it is ok. Networking is weak IMHO but the flash based VM systems are very good. This system when introduced had so many problems that we almost dumped it but, thank goodness NEC got it together and it seems to be fine now. Some notes on the system:

Web based GUI: Not that great IMHO and definately not user friendly unless you have worked on the Aspire.

Ip Phones: Not bad but nothing to write home about and no where near our other products.

Remote Access: Horrible

ACD Reporting/SMDR: This system TOTALLY lacks from the i-series in this regard.

The system is more of a Hybrid than true PBX. Those that have worked on PBX system will notice that the Aspire has alot of features and quite a few pitfalls. For those that want a cheap system that works well..this is your baby. For people that are more into applications such as ACD or networking or large scale IP deployment, this is not the system to cut the mustard IMHO. I have over 100 Aspires in the field and I am a certified tech.

Big problem witht the ASPIRE...NO BOSS GROUPS!

I hate it when a customer goes with DID trunking and wants the DIDs to go differently at different times.
There has got to be a better way of establishing a real group other than Call coverage keys.
I love the #168 key aon the Tadiran. Send that "DID" anywhere anytime!

We just installed a 4 site Aspire system networked with VOIP, and only 1 PRI circuit for trunks, (4 E&M circuits were used for LD). What a nightmare it was. come to find out we could have sold the same in Tadiran for 150.00 less, but it was a school project that wanted NEC only.

Spent a solid week programming the non-network stuff, would've been about 2 days with the Tadiran.

where you from Coral Tech?

Chicago area. Actually for the Aspires you need to use virtual extensions with call coverage keys. A trick to it is that on keys that do not appear on the phones you can put these keys as "kind of" a boss group. I think some where you have to allow pickup up ringing phone rather than press a key. I feel for you, you know what I am talking about going from Tadiran (dream networking) then Aspire networking and how frigging slow it is and a pain in the ass to translate DID numbers if you use any sort of night service. God forbide you hook up a cetralized VM on it and have the constant complaint about the dead air on the transferring. Don't get me wrong, I think tadiran with the IPX is making a better attempt at pricing but lets face it the Aspire is really tinker-toy series 2 and I don't think that the engineering is really as well done. It has it's uses though, name and price. You just have to be very candid and not make promises you can't keep.

HOw did you know I did a centralized VM? That is what killed me.

DIDs come into one switch then translate to a midified dial number so that they can be treat as a DID in another switch so that they can have there own Day/Night mode. Yeah I know all the tricks withe the call coverage keys,

I found it somewhat ironic, you're the thrid company that I know of that deals both the ASPIRE and Tadiran. (realized you do ESI as well, we dropped them but still tedchnically a dealer)

I love the i-series, but now tadiran is going small market with the Coral and IPX Aspire will be hard to compete.

We were/are an i-series dealer and picked up the Aspire when it first came out because of the short comings of the i-series..maily the ugly phones. We have found, that YES the Aspire is better in alot of ways to the i-series it also lacks in some serious ways as well. We used to be strictly Tadiran but saw that we could NOT compete with other companies selling cheaper phone systems. Some people will not but into longevity and keeping a switch forever. You just have to be VERY candid with people when you sell these systems.

I work with a small business that will be doubling in the next few months and doubling again in about 6 months. We are looking for a phone system that meet our needs. We all have laptops because we are on the go so I don't know if a phone system that works with the CPU will really work for us. Right now we are only 4(locally) and need individual voicemail. I don't know very much about phone systems but I have been learning. We were looking at the NEC Aspire S KSU. I was wondering if anyone would recommend this phone for us or any other phone system??

If you think to be growing get the Aspire and not the S. If you actually crunch the numbers the Aspire is a better buy. IMHO for the little you save you mortgage your future.

What exactly is ECTI? I'm an NEC IPK dealer.

https://www.teleco4.com

We sell the NEC Aspire Phones and Cards V/M for a great price give us a call and we will be Happy

Well after checking your site and no Aspire stuff on the blank page, thats pretty good as NEC bars any dealer from selling Aspire via the Internet!!!!


DJ

If you are getting the Aspire system because of VoIP abilties then think twice.

Its a real pain in the butt to setup remote extensions since every remote phone needs a VPN Router. This really bothers me as NEC Expects you to carry a VPN router around wherever you go if you want to have a remote phone.

If you go to this web site you will find very good Price�s on NEC ***edited*** no advertising

NEC doesnt require the VPN. The phones system is on your network. you need to be on your network to communicate with it. It is networking. If Toshiba doesnt require to be on the network then you have NO SECURITY. And no quality of service. And is it possible the Toshiba creates a VPN tunnel from itself to the phone system???