Nortel is one of the largest suppliers of business phones, including its Norstar and Meridian line models. Because a business or office will have several telephone units, replacing several of those units at once can be costly. Therefore, replacing only certain parts or supplies when needed is often a better option.

Along with telephone replacement parts, there are also peripherals and accessories to get. Such parts aid office communication through your Nortel business phones, especially when you need wireless, on-the-go communication. Several supplies of Nortel phones include:

1. AC power adapters for Nortel telephone systems

2. Headsets for cordless telephone communication

3. Replacement parts and components for Nortel base telephones

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Get power supplies for Nortel telephones

Business phones have accessories like intercom systems, large call lists and fax machines, so they require more power than standard phones. They need an AC adapter, plug-in power pack for a wall jack or other power supply. You must make sure any extra power supplies are compliant with your Nortel networks telephones, or they can severely damage them.

I recommend: GFA Electronics offers AC adapters and power supplies for Nortel phones like the M9000, M5000 and M2000 series. NRG Communication sells power supplies for numerous Nortel and Norstar phones at discounted prices.

Find headsets for Norstar and Nortel telephones

Hands-free phone conversations are a must in a multitasking world. Many who use business phones must talk while performing other tasks, meaning a handset gets in the way. Supplying headsets with your Nortel phones allows the freedom of hands-free communication while avoiding the communication issues that come from base speakerphones.

I recommend: Global Teck's Liberation wireless headsets work with Nortel business phone systems and compatible units. Models like the GN 9000 and 2100 series are wi-fi friendly and contain security systems to block eavesdropping. Founders Telecom offers the Plantronics headset series at discount prices, which includes a quick disconnect system.

Locate replacement components for Nortel telephone equipment

Broken phone pieces like display lenses or handsets won't make your office look good. But it doesn't mean you should replace the entire phone because of a few small pieces, either. Getting replacements for individual display pieces keeps your Nortel phone system looking professional while costing less than replacing whole telephone units.

I recommend: Telephone Magic has replacement handsets, bases and display lenses for Nortel and Norstar phones along with replacement button and literature packs. National Telecom sells handsets for many Nortel and compatible phones, like the Meridian M2000, Norstar M7000 and Nortel M5000.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Avoid replacing internal telephone components unless you have a technician who knows about repairing Nortel phones. It's best to replace a unit with internal issues, perhaps with refurbished Nortel phones that still work and cost less.

Nortel telephones and Nortel telephone systems occupy a major share of the business telephony market and for good reason. Nortel phone equipment for small and mid-sized businesses include the latest in IP telephony, converged voice and data, mobility, data networking and security.

Nortel phones and Nortel phone systems are sold through Nortel phone vendors as well as through local phone companies. For more affordable options, used and refurbished Nortel phones are readily available — some with warranties — from many online vendors that feature Nortel phone equipment.

When shopping for Nortel phones and Nortel phone systems, consider the following:

1. Nortel telephone systems for small and mid-sized businesses.
2. Nortel phone systems featuring IP telephony.
3. Nortel phone equipment featuring Nortel’s business communication manager (BCM).
4. Buying new Nortel phone systems.
5. Buying used and refurbished Nortel telephones and Nortel phone systems.

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Nortel telephone systems for small and mid-sized businesses

Nortel phone systems geared to small and mid-sized businesses include Norstar, a digital key system that supports up to 200 stations; Meridian, a PBX system that supports from 20 to 16,000 stations; and Business Communications Manager, a state-of-the-art converged voice and data solution.

I recommend: Startech Telecommunications and Alliance Telecom are leading suppliers of Nortel phones and phone systems for small and mid-sized businesses. For a quick quote on Nortel phone systems designed for small and mid-sized businesses, try Nortel’s SMB Quote Builder.

Nortel Phone systems featuring IP telephony

IP, also known as VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), business telephony solutions are gaining popularity both for their cost efficiency and their ability to converge with other data systems. Nortel's IP solutions include IP Nortel telephones for the desk; IP softclients, which supports PCs or mobile devices; and voice over wireless LAN handsets, all of which use the Internet to drive down the cost of long distance calls.

I recommend: For a list of Nortel phones and phone systems that support IP telephony, visit the Nortel website.

Nortel phone equipment featuring Nortel's business communication manager (BCM)

Nortel phones with BCM offer converged voice and data solutions. BCM supports telephony, unified messaging, multimedia call center, interactive voice response, IP routing and data services, such as firewall and wireless.

I recommend: Find the Nortel phone system featuring BCM that’s right for your business based on your number of users.

Buy a new Nortel phone system

You can buy, rent or lease to purchase a Nortel phone system from your local telephone company or from local certified Nortel phone vendors. When buying a new system, expect to pay for phone sets, central cabinet, wiring and installation, training, programming, service and future modifications.

I recommend: Take advantage of Nortel’s partner locator to find certified Nortel phone vendors in your area.

Buy used and refurbished Nortel phones and Nortel phone systems

A lively and competitive market exists for used and refurbished Nortel phones and phone systems. Ask Nortel phone vendors about service, training and warranties when comparing prices.

I recommend: Comtech Phones sells refurbished Nortel Meridian M3900 phones and Nortel Norstar phones and systems with a two-year warranty. Network Liquidators carries refurbished Nortel phones and Nortel phone systems with a five-year warranty on phone systems and a two-year warranty on phones. Smarter.com offers comparative pricing from different vendors on new and used corded, VoIP and cordless Nortel telephones.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Explore different payment options (rent, lease, buy) and compare prices from your telephone company with certified Nortel phone vendors in your area for the best buy.
• •  If you start with a Nortel phone system that does not support VoIP, make sure it can be upgraded to support VoIP in the future.
• •  Have the phone company or reseller include installation, training and post-installation service in their bid on your Nortel phones.
• •  Ask how many ports each Nortel phone system supports and if it will accommodate your company's future growth.
• •  Inquire about any safeguards your Nortel phone equipment has in the event of a power outage.

Nortel business phones are among the most popular business phones with multiple brands available. However, determining how much your phones will cost is more important in choosing Nortel phone vendors than deciding on Norstar, Meridian or Aastra phones for your office.

The larger your business is, the more phones you will need and the larger the total cost will be. You must take that number into account to figure out your pricing and costs of Nortel phones. Once you know how many phones you need, you can start finding:

1. Discount offers for individual new and refurbished Nortel phones.

2. Nortel phone suppliers offering wholesale and system prices for larger businesses.

3. Prices for more advanced Nortel conference-style phones.

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Locate discount prices on individual Nortel phones for sale

A small business needs only a small supply of Nortel telephones. Therefore, you should look for individual phones selling at discount or special bargain prices. You should consider refurbished used phones, as many distributors can have special deals on them.

I recommend: NortelPhones.net supplies versions of Norstar, Meridian and Aastra phones, ranging from around $55 to $215 for refurbished phones, often about $20 to $30 less than their unused prices. NRG Communication sells phones for up to $91 off the retail price, from about $50 to $305.

Find the best price on Nortel business phone systems to save money and hassles

Many businesses need not only multiple phones but a way to link them together. Getting a single Nortel phone system (which includes the phones themselves) is likely the best option. Small phone systems may cost only a few hundred dollars while larger ones can go in the thousands, but being able to connect all the phones through the system is worth the cost.

I recommend: PhoneGuys offers systems as small as four phones for less than $600 to 37 phones for about $6300, with shipping costs ranging from $20 to $300 depending on the order size. TSRCdirect.com's Norstar systems sell from about $750 to about $3900. Investigate the free ground shipping option for all phone system orders over a certain amount.

Search for pricing on conferencing Nortel telephone units

Nortel's line of conferencing phones are a good addition to aid your business meetings and conferences. Their prices can vary greatly depending on the supplier and their new/refurbished status. Most businesses should only need one or two units, so total cost should be low.

I recommend: TelecomBiz.com sells Nortel conference phones at up to 24% discounts, with refurbished phones ranging from about $450 to $500 and new phones going from around $585 to $1115. They also offer a free one-year warranty with a two-year costing from $65 to $75. AtlasPhones offers the Norstar units for about $400 to $600, up to $280 off the standard retail price. Their online store offers free ground shipping and a free one-year warranty (a two-year warranty is $10).

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check the model of Nortel networks phone units you currently have before purchasing more. If your business has older models, they may not be available anymore, and the new phones may not work with them.

If you need a Nortel phone system for your business, it is important that you research all your options. Telephones, often taken for granted, can impact your business either positively or negatively depending on what you decide to get. To ensure you get a Nortel phone system that includes the capabilities and features you need, make sure you understand the terminology. This guide focuses on terminology that's common to Nortel business phone systems to help speed up your decision-making process.

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Unified communications

The definition of unified communications (UC) varies among vendors, consultants and even industry analysts. Generally, UC involves network technology, software and hardware that work together to provide consistent communications capabilities (telephone, email, instant messaging, video and conferencing) to help manage business transactions.

I recommend: Learn more about the concept of unified communications for small and medium businesses from Nortel.

IP telephony

IP stands for Internet Protocol, and the term IP telephony refers to technology that incorporates IP packet-switched connections rather than the traditional circuit-switched connections to exchange fax, voice and other information delivery methods. With this technology, calls move as packets, or units of data, on shared Internet lines and avoid tolls that accompany the traditional method.

I recommend: Learn more about IP telephony at the Cisco website.

Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a subset of IP telephony. VoIP refers to the digital transmission of voice through the Internet using a computer with a headset, an office phone, home phone, cell phone or PC phone.

I recommend: Learn if your business is ready for VoIP by reading the article at BuyerZone.

Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system

A Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system includes a device that connects office telephones with the public phone network. Besides routing incoming calls, typical PBX system features include recorded business greetings, menu options, custom messages or music when calls are on hold, transferring calls between extensions, detailed call records and voicemail connections.

I recommend: Learn more about basic PBX capabilities at VirtualPBX.

Business Communication Manager

A Business Communication Manager (BCM) is a Nortel converged data and voice business communication platform that includes either an IP-enabled or strictly IP strategy. Features include multimedia call center, telephony, unified messaging, firewall and wireless.

I recommend: Read more about the features and benefits of Nortel's Business Communication Manager at TWAcomm.com.

Automatic Call Distribution

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) refers to a package of call center applications that offer improved routing and call resolution management. The basic ACD process ensures customer calls are answered quickly in the order received by available representatives. Nortel ACD packages help improve customer and staff satisfaction levels with additional features, including routing calls according to individual agent skill sets.

I recommend: Learn more about Automatic Call Distribution and Nortel's ACD features at Tele Technology.