subject: Your Norstar Phone System Explained [print this page] The Meridian Norstar phone system is designed for use by a business that wants to upscale as it goes rather than committing to an overly fancy phone system from the word go and then fighting to catch up with its capabilities. Compact, simple, but with ample facilities for adding capabilities as the business needs grow, the system is preferred by many start up and small businesses.
There are two basic types of Norstar phone system the Compact and the Modular. In both cases the business can start small and grow bigger. The Compact Plus system is designed for very small or starting businesses, while the Modular Plus system is suitable for businesses with a starting requirement of 16 telephones or more.
Norstar supplies a range of handsets, door entry buzzers and software systems to go with the Compact and Modular Plus technologies. Individual Norstar handsets are designed with specific business uses in mind switchboard phones with multiple displays and button pads; compact switchboard phones; desk phones with display panels; and basic panel free phones.
The Meridian Norstar phone system may be used to do more than simply fielding phone calls. With the right software and hardware, the Norstar system can be used to operate door entry systems too.
The door buzzer system run off the back of the Norstar phone system can be routed to any nominated handsets in the building so when the door buzzer is rung, the call comes through to the phones in question. The handset operator is then able to open the door remotely using a dedicated key on his or her phone keypad.
The two main Norstar systems have a further two gradations to choose from:
The Norstar Compact Plus system may either be purchased as an analogue Norstar phone system, in which all external calls come through to a single number, before being routed to internal extensions; or as a digital system, in which each extension is served directly by its own ISDN2e line.
The Norstar Modular Plus system may also be bought either as an analogue system or a digital one.
In each case, the Meridian Norstar phone system may be expanded by utilising ISDN2e or ISDN30 technology. The Compact Plus system may run a maximum of 8 lines and 16 extensions; while the Modular Plus can fuel up to 80 lines and 120 extensions, dependent on whether it is digital or analogue.
All variations of the Meridian Norstar phone system are backed up by add-on voicemail, where necessary. The voicemail systems all work 24 hours a day to answer calls, take messages and deliver them to the appropriate extensions improving customer service and ensuring the business never misses an opportunity to take money. The voicemail systems run by the Norstar phone system are non PC based and have a maximum expansion of 4 ports and 48 mailboxes.
