| Main
Unit CCU - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The Versatility main CCU can
be equipped with up to 8 hybrid extensions (BT Versatility featurephones
or standard telephones including Cordless DECT) and 4 trunks which could
be 4 analogue PSTN lines or 4 channels of ISDN2e BRI (or a combination
of analogue & ISDN2e BRI).
The main CCU can also be equipped
with the Voicemail module and a ISDN30e PRI module for primary-rate
access.
The main CCU is expandable with the
Expansion backplane and Ports Modules.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Expansion
beyond 8 extensions - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
If you need to expand your
Versatility phone system beyond 8 extensions (or beyond 4 analogue PSTN
or 4 ISDN2e channels) then firstly you need to fit the Expansion
backplane. A Ports module is required to expand the extension
& line ports.
Each Ports module is equipped with
8 hybrid extension ports and two slots for trunk cards. So with
additional PSTN line or ISDN2e Modules an expanded Versatility system
with a single ports module provides up to 16 extensions and 8 lines.
The system extension & trunk
limits are currently 32 extensions and 8 lines (this limit may be
expanded to 12 in the future), unless the PRI ISDN30e module is
fitted.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Voicemail
Options - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The Voicemail modules for the BT
Versatility are available in 3 flavours:
2-Port Module with 2 hours of
recording time.
4-Port module with 4 hours of
recording time.
8-Port module with 20 hours of
recording time and Conversation Recording option.
Voicemail modules provide a
personal mailbox for all users, plus department/group mailboxes, a
system answer machine and phantom mailboxes for field workers or announcement
messages.
They are also capable of basic
single-level automated-attendant facilities and a courtesy service/call
queuing message, plus the 8-port module includes additional facilities
including 'dial by name' greetings and conversation recording for
featurephone users.
Please Note:
Not all voicemail
modules are compatible with older version of system firmware.
The 8-port
voicemail module requires a minimum firmware version of 567 plus and the
newer 40-port motherboard.
ToneTel Telecom can arrange a
system firmware upgrade to the newest version if required.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| V8
& V16 Featurephones - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The Versatility system
featurephones are available in 2 flavours.
The V8 featurephone is ideal for
most users with handsfree operation, 8 programmable function keys,
intuitive large display & headset port.
The V16 featurephone has all of the
above plus an additional 8 programmable function keys (16 total),
backlit display (Mains PSU required) and can be connected to a DSS
32-key expansion XP-console (ideal for operators & receptionists).
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| PRI
ISDN30e Connection - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The PRI ISDN30e module for the
Versatility is fitted inside the slot on the main CCU and can provide up
to 15 channels of ISDN30e (this limit may be expanded in the future).
Please Note:
The PRI ISDN30e
module requires a minimum system firmware of 567 plus.
ToneTel Telecom can arrange a
system firmware upgrade to the newest version if required.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| Call
Logging (SMDR) - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
SMDR call logging comes as standard
on the Versatility system and can be output to a Serial port on a PC or
printer.
Call logging options are pretty
standard as on most telephone systems so you can remove extensions from
being logged, change the baud rate and the hospitality solution provides
additional printouts including room status and room telephone bills.
The Versatility system has a 500
call buffer in the event that the phone system loses connectivity to the
PC or printer.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Hospitality
(Hotel) Application - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The hospitality (Hotel) solution is
a software upgrade for the Versatility system which ToneTel Telecom can
carry out for you on ISDN equipped Versatility systems.
The solutions provides check-in
facilities so you can fully account for guest calls with phone bills and
toll restriction, message waiting, wake-up calls and reception
facilities.
Just ask if you need to know more.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Conversation
Recording - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The conversation recording feature
is available with the 8-port voicemail module, it allows any enabled
extension user who has a V8 or V16 featurephone to record a conversation
at the touch of a key, the recorded conversation is stored in the users
personal voice mailbox.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Doorphone
Connection - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
Doorphone connection and unlock
facilities are supplied as standard with the Versatility system.
The door phone uses one fixed
extension port whilst the door relay provides extensions user the
ability to unlock the door once the door phone button has been pressed
by a visitor.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Automated
Attendant - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The Versatility system offers basic
single-level automated attendant facilities.
The attendant greeting can be
customised and you can assign the attendant to whichever lines and/or
DDI numbers you require with a start timer or to answer as soon as the
number is called.
The Versatility auto-attendant
facilities are basic compared to many other systems but do allow a
single-level automated attendant routing to extension groups, single
extensions, external numbers, voice mailboxes or announcement messages.
Please Note:
A system firmware
upgrade may be needed to provide single digit attendant
operation.
ToneTel Telecom can arrange a
system firmware upgrade to the newest version if required.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Department/Group
Mailboxes - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The Versatility Voicemail module
can provide personal and group (shared) mailboxes + a central system
answering machine.
One major limitation is that the
groups and extensions all have to share the same divert on no-answer
timer for forwarding to voicemail, though the system answer machine has
its own.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Remote
Management - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The BT Versatility remote
management package is not currently available outside BT but ToneTel
Telecom do have some sites on remote management via PC access.
An old networked PC with a serial
port and the Versatility Ovida management software connected to the
Versatility system can be managed remotely by a variety of methods to
allow remote programming changes and/or diagnostics.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| What
is the Versatility - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The Versatility system is
manufactured for BT by Lake Communications (Eire), the original product
is known as the 'OfficeLink' and is also known under many other names
around the world.
The Versatility system is only available
for new sales direct from BT, but there is a large second-user market
with most parts and add-ons available. The BT Versatility is a
typical Lake system (manufacturers of the Revelation, Inspiration &
Pathway) with its user-friendly menu-driven interface and design.
It would be classed as a basic low-cost digital system as though it has
some great features it cannot be compared in the same class as other
manufacturer systems such as NEC, Avaya, Mitel etc.
It is sized to suit small offices
with just a few extensions up to 32 users.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Firmware
Compatibility - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
An important fact about the
Versatility system is firmware issues and compatibility.
Many an engineer and independent
dealer has fallen foul when upgrading a system or adding voicemail etc,
many modules are firmware level dependant and systems with earlier
firmware version had quite a few bugs which can be a problem especially
when systems are purchased from auction sites etc.
Generally the firmware flash files
are not available outside BT but a few independent companies have been
able to obtain them and ToneTel Telecom can upgrade systems to the
newest VoIP compliant 719 firmware.
Below is a general guide from BT
documentation and site experience of firmware compatibility:
Mini External Music-on-Hold module
- Rev 473 and above.
Broadband Voice Module (inc VoIP) -
Rev 677 and above.
PRI ISDN30e Module - Rev 567 and
above.
8-Port Advanced Voicemail module -
Rev 567 and above (newer 40-port motherboard also required).
2 & 4-Port Voicemail Modules -
Problems noted dependant on module revision when system is on older
firmware (i.e. 2/3 or 4).
The system firmware version is
displayed briefly on start-up, can be obtained from system telephone
programming or via the Ovida PC management utility (engineering version
only).
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Adding
a Mobile GSM Gateway - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
A Mobile GSM Gateway (Premicell)
can be easily connected to the Versatility system as long has it has a
spare PSTN or ISDN trunk port (dependant on the Gateway type to be
connected).
Additionally the Versatility
routing tables can be programmed to route necessary numbers (such as 07)
automatically to the Gateway with optional override codes for the
extension users. Routing can be on a first-choice or exclusive
basis.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Least
Cost Routing - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
Unlike many BT branded phone
systems the Versatility does have LCR (Least Cost Routing) tables.
One limitation however is that for most
area codes, local calls cannot be routed with a Carrier prefix and the
local area (STD) code.
The routing tables can be used for
the following scenarios:
Standard LCR - to prefix a
telephone number with a carrier access code.
GSM Mobile Gateway - to route 07
mobile calls
VoIP Gateway - to route required
numbers or as a preferred outgoing route.
Preferred Line - as an example in a
small office with 2 lines (1 is for a fax), customer may want all
outgoing calls to use the fax line as first choice route to leave the
voice line free for incoming sales calls.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| 'Commission
System' message - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
The 'Commission System' message
will normally be displayed on Extension 20 (first extension) as a
reminder to BT installation engineers, it has no impact on the operation
of the system.
It will normally appear when the
system is factory defaulted etc.
ToneTel Telecom can easily remove
this message by calling the system into the BT RACE system.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Lines
not releasing - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
A common problem with PSTN line
connections seen on some installations (including a lot of BT ones) is
that the lines take a long time to release after a call is ended.
This is a simple programming
mismatch between the Versatility configuration settings and the BT lines
connected, ToneTel Telecom can easily resolve this problem with a
configuration settings change.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
| BT
Versatility Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
|
| Diversion
on No Answer - BT
Versatility
Trade Tips from ToneTel Telecom
One common complaint about the
Versatility system is that there is only a single Diversion on no-answer
timer which is shared by all extensions and groups for general call
forwarding and forwarding to voicemail. This can cause
configuration difficulties when arranging forwarding to voicemail for
extensions or for groups which need to reroute to a voice mailbox on
no-answer.
The system answer machine does have
its own separate timer.
Return
to BT Versatility Tips Menu
|
BT
Vers Tips
