For Nortel users looking for a convergence solution, the MCS is a leading choice. It integrates with Nortel's Communication Server 1000 product set (formerly known as Succession 1000), providing cutting-edge convergence capabilities to VoIP and TDM phones.
The bigger question is whether the MCS provides enough value to draw new users. While the MCS was far ahead of its time when first released, major competitors have since come up with MCS-like solutions. A case in point is Siemens' OpenScape, which does a better job of integrating real-time communications with third-party calendaring products such as Microsoft's Live Communications Server (LCS).
The biggest competition will come from the growing market of third-party SIP developers, such as Xten Networks. These vendors are now providing much of the same capabilities as Nortel's MCS, but at a fraction of Nortel's cost.
Ultimately, Nortel is in a quandary with the MCS. The solution can be cost-justified only if viewed as a phone replacement. However, the MCS may be too expensive to compete with the growing number of third-party products. Whether the MCS provides enough value to draw either market remains to be seen.
CONFERENCING KILLER
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