Summary

Dec 3rd Aastra Day Key issues  summary

Main Points

Relatively quiet closed session with no major issues highlighted. Main focus was the version 4 MX-One and the path to getting there (especially given DNA has to migrate to CMG). see meeting notes for more details.

MX-One V4 Launched formally on the 14th December. Available to order from the new year. Good feedback from the Beta trials undertaken by Damovo - Damovo view "that this was the best yet". We were informed in September that DNA was not supported on version 4 and that anyone with DNA would be required to migrate to CMG. We have concentrated 2 of the presentations on clarifying what CMG is about and what exactly is involved in migrating. See the slides from the meeting. In the last meeting we also highlighted that taking the upgrade to version 4 should not carry a cost penalty associated with what is in effect replicating an existing DNA deployment (includes extension manager) with a CMG equivalent version. Aastra have announced that a version 4 upgrade  taken before June 2010 Aastra will provide the equivalent CMG licenses for free. Apologies in avdance if you wanted to see the embedded flash based training that was part of the CMG presentation. Aastra could not get them to us as they were too big. We have not given up yet! Customer Apps (Solidus/CMG/DNA/Manager Provisioning) Solidus 7 is launched, no UK client as of Dec 1st. We would expect all partners will be quoting Solidus 7 (if they are not watch out for licensing phase out.  The web based management tool (manager provisioning) is part of any move to version 4 (extendsion manager disappears with DNA) it will include directory management, system management and MX-One management provisioning. All supported through one database i.e. no more synchronizing data requirement. What won't be free is the implementation and training required from the partner. You will need to ascertain exactly what they will be in negotiations with the partner. Linked to the topic above the role out / upgrade of applications still have questionable (unclear) costs associated with them. The users feel that the application focus should be along with the core MX-One to package the update / role out to be simpler and easier, perhaps then, the confusion over what is part of an implementation management activity or a premium project activity can be addressed to reduce the cost charged by the service partner.

New partner program Aastra have highlighted they have revamped their partner program (see the Aastra Update from September for more details). Now the status of the partners will be  Elite, Premier, Select and Certified. No further progress has been reported. We await a formal indication from Aastra the partner status for the UK. Current choice for now remains the same for existing enterprise customers (Damovo, PNM, Westons, DV02, NCS). The user group will seek updated status infomation from the partners to publish as we have had little directly from them and Aastra over the last 12 months during the transition.

We will seek to address this before or at the AGM in April.

Marketing Information UK specific

Aastra indicate in their presentation that the Gartner position is improving and the UK operations are expanding in 2010 with new offices and demo facilities and they continue to invest in their UK team. Aastra announced a consultants event in January to be held in London. Their plan is to engage with the consultant community to enhance reputation and improve visibility within the large enterprise UK marketplace.  Finally a new branding exercise is being undertaken to encompass all the unified suite (see slide 19 of the Aastra review and look forward presentation).

 

 

NOTE Important...

Watch out for the end of year  Aastra User Group Survey, and don't forget to respond!