History of Digital Nortel PBX Systems, Part 4

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NT would release about 6 more versions of Meridian 1 before it went to a VOIP/softswitch setup. Before that, Release 19 came in 1993, in March of that year.

Generic X11 Release 19 – North America (3/93)

New business features in X11 Release 19 offer a collection of station activated call handling capabilities that provide the user with more flexibility while insuring system security is maintained. Call center enhancements enable the Meridian 1 system to provide more information to agents and supervisors improving call management and efficiency. Improvements in the Operations, Administration & Maintenance (OA & M) area support faster system installations, fewer service calls, and better customer responsiveness. ISDN Basic Rate Interface and Networking opens the door to more standardization and increases system capabilities.

Business Features:

  • User Selectable Call Redirection: Select and change call redirection DN from the user set. Select number of rings before the call is redirected from user set or administration terminal.
  • Call Forward Reminder Tone: A distinctive dial tone alerts analog set users that the phone is forwarded.
  • Internal Call Forward: Allows internal calls to be forwarded while external calls ring through.
  • Station Specific Authorization Codes: Defines authorization code access for each station.
  • Handsfree Voice Call: Optionally allow either handsfree answerback or manual answerback for Voice Call and Intercom (with Voice Option) features.

Call Center Enhancements:

  • ACD Display Queue Enhancement: Shows call center queue status on the agent set:
    • Number of calls waiting in queue
    • Number of agents staffed in the queue
    • Longest wait time of a call in queue
    • Number of virtual calls overflowed from other queues
  • ACD Display: Displays new screens “Logged Out” and “Not Ready” when appropriate.
  • DNIS Enhancement: Redisplays DNIS information on a terminating set after call modification over auxiliary processors and/or remote switches.

Operations, Administration & Maintenance:

  • Single Terminal Access: Provides convenient, centralized access for the administration of Meridian 1 and application processors, such as Meridian Mail, Meridian Max, CCR, and Meridian Link from a single terminal.
  • Multi-User Login: Allows up to three users to log-in to the Meridian 1 for administration purposes.
  • Overlay Restructuring: Enables direct access to gateway prompts for more efficient changes to the configuration record and lets the administrator enter commands in one overlay to be executed in another.
  • Fault Management: Provides Alarm Filtering, Formatted Output and, for Option 81, System Message Lookup Utility:
    • OA&M Feature Improvements
    • System Security
    • System Installation
    • System Maintenance
    • Print Enhancements

Networking Features:

  • B8ZS on DTI: Allows Digital Trunk Interface loops to be configured for Bipolar with 8 Zero (B8ZS)/Extended Superframe (ESF) line encoding.
  • Transparent Data Networking: Allows data calls to tandem through multiple Meridian 1 systems before terminating onto the public network. SDI on MSDL – Supports SDI applications on the Multi-purpose Serial Data Link (MSDL).

ISDN Basic Rate Interface:

  • Meridian 1 Packet Handler: Provides an integrated solution for packet data transmission. Allows users to take advantage of ISDN BRI packet data applications cost effectively.
  • Basic Rate Signaling Concentrator: Supports up to 100% ISDN BRI lines.
  • National ISDN Support: Supports basic calling services and supplementary features, including Conference.
  • M5209 ISDN BRI Telephone: New addition to the ISDN BRI terminals portfolio.

Release 20 came 2 years later, given that competition was releasing new software every year to play mustard and ketchup of all of Nortel’s contributions to enterprise networks in just the 1980s alone.  (By no means am I defending Nortel!)

Generic X11 Release 20 – North America (3/95)

Generic X11 Release 20 – North America (3/95) introduced in the first quarter of 1995, combines what was two separate streams of software, the North American and International streams, to provide additional features and functionality into the North American market. End users to the Meridian PBX would be enjoying so many little features in this update…

General Business Features:

  • Call Forward and Busy Status: Provides a secretary with the status of monitored sets (Busy and/or Forwarded). The feature key can also be used to forward or dial a monitored set.
  • Call Forward / Hunt Override via FFC: When used before dialing a number, will override Call Forward All Calls, Call Forward No Answer and Hunting.
  • Dial Access to Group Call: Allows a person to access the Group Call feature from any phone by dialing a flexible feature code.
  • Multi-Party Operations: Has several sub-features.
    • Call Join: Allows two independent calls that are active on one telephone to be joined into a conference.
    • Three Party Service Allows the user of an analog telephone to toggle between two separate parties before conferencing them together.
    • Recovery of mis-operation of Call Transfer will prevent callers from being disconnected if a transfer attempt is made to a vacant number or to a busy station.
  • Make Set Busy/Voice Call Override: Can be used to place a call to a telephone that has the Make Set Busy feature activated.
  • Priority Override: Allows someone to break into a busy call of a station that has a lower priority.
  • Restricted Call Transfer: Denies any attempt to transfer a call. This differs from Transfer Denied class of service which will present a call to the attendant if a transfer is attempted.
  • Ring Again on No Answer: Allows the Ring Again feature to be activated against a station that does not answer (as opposed to only a busy station). When the called party next uses their telephone and disconnects, a notification will be provided to the original calling party allowing one button redial to the desired station.
  • Station Camp-on: Provides the capability to transfer an external call to a busy station where it will be “camped on”. The busy station will receive a camp on tone and will be presented with the call when they hang up.
  • Speed Call on Private Lines: Extends the speed call capability to calls made on a private line.

Attendant Features:

  • Attendant Break-in: Simplifies the process of delivering an emergency call to a busy station.
  • Enhanced Night Service: Offers alternate night service options for weekend and holiday schedules.
  • Recall To Same Attendant: Simply delivers a recall (i.e., a call that has returned to an attendant because of no answer) to the attendant that last extended the call. If busy, the call can overflow to another attendant or queue to the last attendant.
  • Recovery of Misoperation of the Attendant Console: Prevents the attendant from dropping a call by transferring to a vacant number, busy station, or a number without enough digits.
  • Trunk Hook Flash Enhancement: Allows the attendant console to be configured with Trunk Hook Flash capabilities used to access Centrex features.

Networking Features:

  • Network Attendant Service: Provides the ability to have attendants distributed throughout a network sharing the workload. Calls can be re-routed to an alternate attendant (at a remote location) based on a variety of reasons
  • (e.g., Overflow, Time of Day, Night Service, etc.)
  • Attendant and Network Wide Remote Call Forward: Extends the capability to remotely forward a telephone over the network and provides the attendant the ability to verify forwarding status and to change the forwarding of a telephone.
  • Network Wide Listed Directory Numbers (LDN): Provides two additional LDN keys to be programmed on a console. When used with Network Attendant Service, it will allow LDN keys to be configured for the LDN of a remote location.

System Features:

  • Autodial Tandem Transfer: Permits the autodial feature to be used in conjunction with Trunk Hook Flash when accessing Centrex features.
  • Call Forward Save on Dump/Sysload:  Saves the Call Forward status of telephones after a Sysload (e.g., when upgrading software). The system restores the Forward to the status as of the Data Dump (or data save).
  • Dialed Number Identification Services (DNIS) Length Flexibility: Allows the DNIS number to be flexible from 1 to 7 digits instead of 3 or 4 digits.
  • Malicious Call Trace DN/TN Print: Provides more information about a Malicious Call (i.e., whether the call was internal or external and the CLID if offered).
  • Enhanced Malicious Call Trace: Allows a recording device to be conferenced with a Malicious Call. Also provides the ability to configure a maintenance terminal to output only Malicious Call Trace information (i.e., for a security office).
  • Flexible Feature Code Enhancements: Provides access to Autodial, Call Waiting, Make Set Busy, and Multiple Automatic Wake Up using Flexible Feature Codes.
  • Flexible Numbering Plan: Supports a network with Directory Numbers and Location Codes of varying lengths. Also supports Vacant Number Routing.
  • Global Call Detail Recording (CDR) Record: Provides the option of providing a new formatted CDR output, information on time to answer, information on abandoned calls, and a new record type “D” for station monitoring.
  • Phantom TN Operation: Provides the ability to configure a TN with no associated hardware. A useful application is “Virtual Office” or “Hoteling” office space if employees spend most of the time out of the office.
  • Recall After Parking: Allows calls to either recall to the station that parked the call or to the attendant.
  • Scheduled Access Restrictions: Allows calling restrictions to be placed on stations within a group based on time of day and days of week.
  • Station Activity Record: Provides a way to monitor internal and external activity on a single telephone without turning on CDR records for the whole system.
  • Trunk Barring: Restricts certain defined trunk to trunk connections for the purposes of conferencing or transferring.
  • New System Hardware Support:
    • Multi Disc Unit (Hard Drive) for Option 21E
    • Option 11E
    • XOPS Off Premise Line Card
    • Option 51C

Generic X11 Release 21 – North America (3/96)

I did not add the Benefit boldface statements, I bet this was that Nortel needed to sell new software as this could be the plateau of the legacy of the Meridian PBX.

Improved System Performance:

  • 68040 Call Processor: 50% increase in real time call processing. Supports increased memory capacity with either 64MB or 96MB. Benefit: 50% real time improvement.

So the 68O40 wasn’t just for that sexy NeXT Cube or the latest Macintosh – by that point they were on PowerPC CPUs. Nortel swapped their CPUs to PPC later on.

  • Option 81C: Combination of Core and Network modules into Core/Net module. Benefit: Smoother upgrade from Option 61C and reduced footprint in the switchroom.

Option 81C was their largest system available handling up to 20,000 ports per system.

Flexible Remote Capabilities:

  • Carrier Remote IPE: Allows placement of remote IPE shelves up to 70 miles away using T1 facilities. Benefits: Centralized OA&M, single database, and feature transparency.
  • Supervised Analog Lines: Allows equipment which requires supervision to be connected to the line side of the Meridian 1. This feature provides two types of supervision, battery reversal and hookflash disconnect supervision. Benefit: Provides accurate tracking of analog calls.

Advanced Station and Attendant Features:

  • Call Waiting Redirection: Allows unanswered calls presented to the call waiting key/feature to be redirected to the designated Call Forward No Answer (CFNA) number for that station. Benefit: Eliminates interruptions and/or unattended calls.
  • Busy Number Redial: Allows analog telephone users to redial a number that was previously busy every time they go off-hook until the number is reached. This feature is activated by using a Flexible Feature Code. Benefit: Simplifies redialing for analog users.
  • Customer Call Forward: Allows analog telephone users to forward calls to a central answering service via a Flexible Feature Code eliminating the need to enter a DN. Benefit: Simplifies call-forwarding for analog users.
  • Directory Number Delayed Ringing: Provides three opportunities to answer incoming calls to a manager; first by the manager, second by the secretary, third by voicemail. Incoming calls simultaneously ring on a manager’s phone while a flashing lamp is provided on a secretary’s phone. If, after a specified amount of time, the call is unanswered by the manager, the secretary’s phone will begin to ring as well. Benefit: Increased call flexibility for managers.
  • Series Call: Allows an external caller to place a single call to the attendant who can then transfer the caller to the first of several desired parties. After the first internal party hangs up, the call is automatically routed back to the attendant who can then transfer the caller to the second desired party and so on. Benefit: Saves the caller time and money by eliminating the need to place separate calls to multiple persons at the same location.
  • Semi-Automatic Camp-on: If an attendant has camped-on a call to a busy station, and that station then becomes free, rather than the call being automatically routed to the station, it will route back to the attendant who can then provide a personal greeting before connecting the call. Benefit: Provides personal treatment to the caller and eliminates the need for attendants to place the call on hold and monitor its status.
  • Attendant Blocking of DN: Allows the attendant to make a user’s station appear busy to incoming callers while they place an external (usually long-distance) call for the user. This ensures that the user’s DN is available when the external call has been connected. Benefit: Eliminated wasted call setups by the attendant.
  • Conference Warning Tone (Opt 11E): Allows a caller to distinguish between conference warning tone and an intrusion tone. Benefit: Added security for conference calls.

Superior Call Center Performance:

  • 500/2500 Disconnect for Outgoing Calls: Provides a signal to predictive dialing equipment when the far end disconnects so that the predictive dialing equipment can disconnect and proceed to the next call immediately. Benefit: Allows more predictive dialer calls per hour.
  • Predictive Dialing Fast Transfer Support: Transfers predictive dial calls to an ACD agent in a single step which is at least twice as fast as the previous process. Benefit: Increased effectiveness of predictive dial calls.
  • Multiple Queue Assignment: Allows agents to specify which queues to serve (up to five), what priority level to set for each queue, and which supervisor they will to report to. Additionally, their individual DN calls will be forwarded to them no matter which set they are logged in to. Benefit: Enhances skills based routing portfolio by providing additional flexibility and productivity for call centers.
  • Virtual Network Services: Provides private ISDN networking features without requiring a dedicated private network. Benefit: Reduced cost of dedicated lines.

Enhanced Networking Capabilities:

  • Call-Pickup Network Wide: In buildings with multiple Meridian 1 systems, call pick-up can be used even if the two phones are connected with different systems. Benefit: More efficient call handling for large installations using multiple M1s.
  • NI-2 TR1268 PRI Basic Call: Provides standard PRI connection format between PBX and Central Office switch. Benefit: Provides standardized connectivity to multivendor Central Office Switches.
  • Calling Party Privacy: Allows Meridian 1 users to block the display of their calling party name and number on outgoing public or private network calls. Benefit: Increased user privacy.
  • Network Hotline: Provides a dedicated line between 2 users across a network. Benefit: Increases network productivity.
  • Direct Private Network Access: Allows the Meridian 1 to be used as a front end concentrator for long distance service to international customers. Benefit: Provides cost-effective international calling when away from the office.

Increased System Protection:

  • Outgoing Call Barring: Allows the user to select one of three pre-defined levels of call barring/blocking for their telephone set. Benefit: Flexible user-defined security.
  • Electronic Lock Network Wide/Electronic Lock on Private Lines: Allows users to restrict their telephone’s class of service from remote network locations. Benefit: Consistent feature functionality across the network.
  • Authorization Code Security: If an invalid authorization code is entered, an alarm is generated to alert the system administrator. Benefit: Helps to identify toll abuse.

Simplified System Management:

  • Meridian 1 Initialization Prevention/Recovery: Tracks specific hardware components and if faulty hardware is found, the faulty component is disabled rather than automatically causing a system initialization. Benefit: Intelligent fault detection and reduced system initializations.
  • Traffic Period Option: Reports trunk traffic at each interval rather than only reporting traffic when a call is disconnected. Benefit: More accurate traffic reports.
  • Trunk Seizure Option: Aligns M1 traffic reports with central office switch by starting accumulation of traffic statistics upon trunk seizure rather than when the call is established. Benefit: More accurate traffic reports.
  • CDR On Redirected Incoming Calls: Allows the CDR Record to identify either the answering party or the party that last redirected a call in a redirection chain. Benefit: More accurate call tracking and billing.
  • Overlay 15 Restructuring: Restructures the 250 prompts into 24 “gateway” prompts to provide more direct access for system changes and printing. Benefit: Reduces system administration time and effort.
  • Set Based Administration: Offers three access levels to change certain system data like: Calling Party Name Display, system time and date, toll restrictions, and TN/DN correspondence. Additional changes can be made to Option 11E including: changing Route Access Codes, trunk installation and removal, and auto- set installation via model sets. Benefit: Simplifies system administration.

Rlses 22, 23 and 25 were unable to be recovered on the Internet Archive.

RELEASE 24

Hardware Support:

  • Option 11C Line Size Expansion: Increases the Option 11C line capacity from the current 3 cabinets to a maximum of 5 cabinets with fiber links between cabinets – long (3 km) and short (10 m) fiber. Option 11C will be able to support an additional 20 IPE cards through 2 additional fiber expansion cabinets.  Benefit: Provides cost effective expansions for existing Option 11C customers. Increases addressable market for new Option 11C systems.Benefit: Provides cost effective expansions for existing Option 11C customers. Increases addressable market for new Option 11C systems.
  • Meridian M3900 Series Digital Telephones: Introduces 5 new terminals for Meridian 1 Options 11C-81C.  Benefit: Increased user productivity through simplified user interface and simplified directory entry. Increased set personalization and end user empowerment.
  • Option 11C T1 Multipurpose Digital Interface: Introduces a new 1.5 Mb DTI/PRI card for Option 11C and introduces keycodes to implement functionality. Benefit: Increases Digital trunking flexibility and provides simple cost effective upgrade from DTI to PRI (SW only change).

Mobility:

  • Meridian Companion Enhanced Capacity: Allows users to configure twice the number of users, base stations, and cells for Meridian Companion systems. Benefit: Saves money by minimizing the number of card slots and receivers required for Meridian Companion systems.

Desktop:

  • Automatic Hold: Allows users with multiple DNs to toggle between users without putting individual callers on hold before switching. Benefit: Improves customer satisfaction by eliminating accidentally lost callers.
  • Call Redirection by Day: Enhances Release 22 Call Redirection By Time Of Day feature by allowing call redirections to be configured by both time of day and day of week.  Benefit: Saves callers time by being routed immediately to most appropriate location.
  • Calling Party Privacy Override: Allows users to selectively unblock outgoing caller ID on a per call basis by using a flexible feature code. Benefit: Combines system security/privacy with user flexibility.
  • Make Set Busy Improvement: Allows the secretary phone, in a boss/secretary configuration, to toggle the status of the boss’ phone between ringing and non-ringing. Benefit: Improves productivity and increases flexibility in manager/secretary environments.
  • Distinctive Ringing by DN: Provides a different ringing cadence for each DN appearance on a Meridian 1 Digital Telephone. Benefit: Saves time and improves personal productivity at the desktop.
  • Message Waiting Indicator by DN: Provides a separate message waiting indication for each DN on a set with a voice mailbox. Benefit: Increases productivity at the desktop, especially useful for administrators and telecommuters.
  • Flexible DID: Allows hotels to dynamically allocate DID lines to rooms so that external callers can be connected directly to rooms without going through an operator. Benefit: Saves time, reduces costs, and improves service for hotel environments.

Call Center:

  • Activity Codes for Not Ready: Allows call center agents to enter an activity code to track non-call/post call activities. Benefit: Improves call center forecasting and staffing by tracking non- call activities.
  • MQA Enhanced Login: Returns a logged-out MQA set to its original queue rather than a default queue. Benefit: Saves time in call center environments and simplifies MQA login process.
  • N Digit DNIS: Expands DNIS capability up to 31 digits. Benefit: Eliminates confusion in call center environments by ensuring each dialed number is uniquely identifiable.

System Administration:

  • Instant Incremental Software Management (ISM): Allows Meridian 1 users equipped with an IODU/C to update the system ISM limits, via a keycode, without requiring a SYSLOAD. Benefit: Saves installation time and money because feature additions/ISM changes can be made during the day without taking users out of service.
  • Bearer Capability in CDR: Stores the type of ISDN call being made in the system’s CDR records. Benefit: Increases revenue by allowing the operator to apply different rates to calls according to the type of ISDN call being made.
  • MAT Data Buffering and Access: Allows a Meridian 1 System to store data output and allow those files to be accessed by the MAT PC. Benefit: Saves costs by eliminating the need for buffer boxes to capture Meridian 1 output.
  • Call Capacity Report Enhancement: Improves calculation algorithms and extends the time period used for traffic reporting. Benefit: Improves the accuracy of traffic reports and simplifies reporting.
  • Meridian 1 Inventory Reporting: Introduces an automated tool for customers and support personnel to produce an inventory report listing cards and sets installed on the Meridian 1.
  • Benefit: Saves system administration time and improves inventory reporting accuracy.
  • OHAS Half Disconnect Enhancement:  Notifies a security/emergency location when telephones enter “half disconnect” status (when the far end disconnects but near end is still off-hook).
  • Benefit: Improves safety for customers in nursing home environments.
  • End to End Signaling Digits: Provides a customer based toggle to set if the entire End to End Signaling (EES) digit stream is shown when dialed by the user or if no EES digits are displayed. Benefit: Introduces flexibility to turn off the display of EES digits where security/passwords are an issue.

Networking:

  • 1.5/ 2.0 MB Gateway: Provides connectivity between T1 and E1 networks. Introduces 2.0 MB PRI connections into North America. Benefit: Integrates international networks more seamlessly, provides additional bandwidth for private network users.
  • 510 Trunk Route Member Expansion: Expands the number of ISDN B-Channels that can be associated with a single D-Channel. Previously, 1 D-Channel could support 254 B-Channel members, now, 1 D-Channel can support 510 B-Channels. Benefit: Saves costs by maximizing D-Channel capabilities.
  • MSDL/DDP: Port Overload Counter: Provides an overload counter capability on a port-by-port basis. Once the overload threshold is met, only one port is disabled, not the entire MSDL card. Benefit: Isolates potential MSDL downtime issues to a single port.
  • MSDL/DDP – Status Enquiry Message Throttle: Provides a mechanism to throttle or eliminate MSDL messages in high traffic situations such as when a D-Channel restart happens between Meridian 1’s using Network ACD applications. Benefit: Ensures maximum system performance during high traffic periods.
  • QSIG Alternate Routing: Allows the QSIG network to re-route calls on alternate routes if the call cannot be connected over primary routes due to network congestion, temporary failure, etc. Benefit: Allows maximization of network traffic routes by providing support for overflow situations.
  • QSIG Compliance Update: Updates existing Q.SIG features to latest specifications. Benefit: Lower networking costs due to support for international standards.
  • MCDN Alternate Routing: Allows the MCDN network to re-route calls on alternate routes if the call cannot be connected over primary routes due to network congestion, temporary failure, etc. Benefit: Allows maximization of network traffic routes by providing support for overflow situations.
  • MCDN End to End Transparency: Provides Nortel MCDN (Meridian Customer Defined Network) signaling services (NAS, NACD, NMS) over standardized ISDN Qsig Network interfaces. Benefit: Leverages existing investment in MCDN services.

RELEASE 3.0

The Succession (now known as Communication Server) software release 3.0 provides a seamless migration path for Meridian 1 to migrate. In addition to supporting call server and gateway redundancy, IP telephony scalability to 10,000 IP clients/call server, and survivable branch office solutions, 3.0 also allows interworking with Nortel Multimedia Communications portfolio.   Five top reasons why to upgrade from Meridian 1 to Succession (now known as Communication Server) software release 3.0:

  • Delivers innovative new mobility services to allow employees to take their office anywhere.
  • Provides information and data services to IP phones.
  • Offers cost-effective, easy-to-manage solutions for delivering feature- and application-rich communications services to branch offices.
  • Extends the quality of service, scalability and robustmess that are Meridian 1 hallmarks to IP telephony deployments.
  • Adds new technology and applications at a pace that is right for the business.

Call Server:

  • 10,000 IP clients per server
  • Networked Call Servers with feature transparency

H.323 Gatekeeper Capacity: 10,000 IP endpoints

Operating System: VXWorks

Network Signaling Protocols: H.323 v. 3, MCDN, LAPD, Q.Sig, Q.931, in-band, DPNSS

Trunking support: IP Peer Networking, DTI, ISDN PRI, ISDN BRI, Loop and Ground Start CO, FX, WATS, 2 or 4 Wire E&M, 4 wire DX, DID, TIE, RAN, paging

Telephone compatibility:

  • IP Phones: 2002, 2004, Softphone 2050, Symbol NetVision Phone (802.11 FHSS) and Symbol NetVision Phone (802.11b DSSS); future support for i2050 Mobile Voice Client and i2001
  • Digital Telephones: M3901, M3902, M3904, M3905, M2006, M2008, M2008HF, M2616, M2216ACD
  • Analog telephones

IP Phone Powering Options: 802.3af Power over Ethernet, Power over LAN Hub and Local AC adapter

Application Support:

  • Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100
  • Unified Messaging: CallPilot
  • Integrated Productivity Applications: Conference Bridge, Personal Call Director, Recorded Announcement
  • Management: Optivity Telephony Manager
  • Contact Center: Symposium Express Call Center, Symposium Call Center Server, Nortel Networks IVR
  • Branch Office/Teleworking/Mobility: Remote Office 9150/9110/9115, Succession Branch Office, 802.11 Wireless VoIP, IP Phones