Voice Over Ip - Toshiba Strata DK Competitive Notes

User Programmable Feature Buttons
Norstar telephones have user programmable buttons enabling individual station users to store
personal speed dial numbers, and assign their buttons to auto dial or features. Strata DK
systems also have this feature, including an additional advantage. User programmable feature
buttons can store functions such as hold, intercom, and conf/trans, as well as feature access
codes, to perform multiple operation at the touch of one button.
Automatic Hold/Release
Automatic Hold is a feature the Norstar provides to prevent lost calls. Strata DK systems also
have this feature. However, in high traffic call situations, Auto Hold is inefficient because call
takers go from one call to the next simply by pressing the ringing CO line key, and Auto Hold
would require them to release the call before going to the next. Auto Hold is programmable by
station on Strata DK systems, to either automatically place the call on hold or automatically
release the call when another button is pressed. This enables each Strata station user to choose
the method most effective for them, providing flexibility unavailable with the Norstar.
Release/Answer
Strata DK systems provide the Release/Answer button as an efficient way to handle multiple
incoming calls. A station user who is talking on a call can release and transfer or disconnect
the active call, and automatically answer a new incoming call with the press of one button.
This is especially useful for heavy traffic call answering applications. Norstar systems do not
provide this useful feature.
Ground Start Lines
The Norstar ICS Compact does not support ground start CO lines that the Strata DK40i
supports. Ground start lines provide better CO line supervision for disconnect signaling than
loop start lines and prevent collision of incoming and outgoing calls. This can be important in
applications using auto attendant and voice mail in which there are lots of hold hang-ups.

Voice Over IP

The Strata DK40i and DK424 systems integrate with the Oki Internet Voice Gateway products
to route both voice and fax traffic through any new or existing data Wide Area Network
(WAN) infrastructure, such as point to point, Frame Relay, a Virtual Private Network (VPN),
or the public Internet. This eliminates the need to maintain separate networks, improves
overall business operation, and produces substantial cost savings. Norstar systems do not
support voice over IP capabilities.
Hospitality Management
The Strata DK40i and DK424 systems integrate with the Toshiba Hospitality Management
Information System, a PC-based solution that provides hotel/motel specific features, front
desk operation, and several property management capabilities. Norstar systems do not support
hospitality features.
Strata DK 12/99
Toshiba Strata DK & Nortel Norstar Product Comparison
Strata DK Advantages Over Norstar
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