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Alcatel-Lucent
Business integrated Communication
Solution
Release 2.2
Questions & Answers
May 2010
General information What’s in BiCS ?
BiCS is an all-in-one software solution that integrates a call server (OmniPCX Enterprise/CCD), the management application (OmniVista 4760), and Unified Communications applications (ICS), Integrated messaging, Fax server, XML API, and the UC client My Instant Communicator. All applications are ready to be deployed and just need the relevant licenses to be provisioned.
Pre-integration means there is no need to install the new applications in addition to an existing configuration. They are all pre-installed. The only remaining work is to set up the users. BiCS is designed to answer increasing demand in the mid market segment for a short time-to-operation solution that is versatile and future proof, thus allowing the customer to be confident in their investment.
Which Alcatel-Lucent technologies are involved? Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Enterprise
Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista 4760
Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch CC Standard Edition (CCD, Cca, CCs) Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch ICS (including My Instant Communicator) Alcatel-Lucent My Teamwork (IM & Presence only)
Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch Fax Server
IMAP4 server running on same OS as OXE + Voice Mail 4645 Openness Pack XML API.
When is this offer available?
Alcatel-Lucent BiCS release 2.2: June 2010 Which countries and segments are targeted?
This offer is available in 130 countries (official country list available upon request), including US & Canada.
How is the BiCS priced?
The BiCS price positioning rule is “equal or less than Telephony + management”. This means that in all configurations that involve more than telephony, the offer becomes better positioned (i.e. always cheaper).
The offer includes Software package, and HW appliance server. Some Hardware extension may be needed to support the desired architecture (e.g. media gateways). Additionally, some specific user license packs are available (IP users and TDM users).
How is BiCS positioned versus traditional products that are sold separately?
The products remain available with all their standard options. No existing product is replaced by the BiCS solution.
What about convergence?
As BiCS is part of the generic mid market offer (Business Communication Solution offer), it reuses all of the components that have been defined for the generic offer. See the generic business segment offer for more information.
Technical / Features information
Is there a common provisioning interface (Unified Management) ? This feature is planned in further releases.
What is the maximum number of users ?
The system is made for a maximum of 1000 active users. A separate document explains the UC provisioning level (differs from the OXE provisioning level), and CC provisioning level.
Can I install my own applications on this server?
No. The server is provided pre installed, with guaranteed performance and reliability. Installing a third party application may result in instability, or loss of performances, and is not supported by Alcatel-Lucent.
Security: What kind of protection is built into the product?
BiCS reuses the intrinsic security of each of the included sub products. Encryption of voice & signaling is supported using SSM / MSM and Soft MSM components.
Integration into a global IT environment: Does it allow remote monitoring ?
BiCS release 2.2 makes use of Vmware and the associated monitoring of each sub operating system and the applications running on them. BiCS can be remotely managed by connecting to Vmware. A single connection is used for all applications.
What are the high availability features? Are there any redundant hardware, software or configuration files?
The following features are available :
- RAID1 for HDD (included in base configuration), hot swap capable - PCS-based passive communication server (MGW)
- Spatial Redundancy through a second call server (appliance or CS-2 board inside cabinet). What kind of network topology can be used?
BiCS does support networking. This means that multiple BiCS or additional OXE can be linked on a common network. However, limit of total users is equal to BiCS limit. BiCS in multi node is mainly intended to interconnect with existing network, or for smooth evolution. QSIG, ABC-F, DPNSS are supported.
Reminders :
- each “integrated OXE” can be connected to up to 32 media gateways, in a “virtual network” topology.
Does it support remote management ?
Yes, and more. BiCS does remote management, monitoring of all the application using a single connection (and “management window”). It support as well remote user activation without the need to reboot the system. The service provider (business partner) can then activate and configure any new or existing user without the need to be “in front of the server”.
Can I purchase my own server ?
All BiCS configuration are provided pre installed and comes with the server. The purchase is then not needed. However, for maintenance reason, it can be usefull to consider a spare server to be used in case of main server failure. This server can be purchased outside of Alcatel-Lucent
End user concerns
What are the key benefits of the packaged solution vs. buying separate solutions?
End customers benefit from a pre-integrated solution that decreases installation time,
configuration conflicts, and maximizes reliability on a single server. Moreover, as only one server is required, it provides immediate gain in power consumption and overall required footprint. In addition, it offers an enablement platform to support further evolution of the customer
communications solution (easy-to-activate applications). Last, any customer can benefit from the latest UC application for free thanks to integrated free user licenses (not limitation in time or feature level).
Migration strategy: Can I migrate to this new offering if I have already purchased one of the sub-components? At what price?
A specific migration program is available that make the process from an existing OXE to a BiCS fully automated (reuse of existing compatible components and user licenses). Price to go to BiCS is then highly affordable. The migration can handle both OXE and 4400 base configurations. ACTIS manage the obsolescence of old hardware components, and provides all latest applications software revisions.
What is the actual time saved between standard product and BiCS ?
Time saved ranges from days (usually required to deploy a complete system including unified communication and management) to one hour for the same configuration (excluded user provisioning).
What would happen if I need more than 1000 users in the future ?
Business Partner Concerns
I want to sell a solution: Is there specific training on the BiCS product to help me? Do I have to attend all of the training sessions for the “sub products”?
NO. With your current certifications (OXE AND 4760), you can sell the BiCS solution. However, to help understand the new technologies involved (Virtualization), there is a specific training on top of existing applications specific trainings. The module is optional (no certification needed). The training includes: Vmware, installation (wizard), and serviceability.
UC is not mandatory but highly recommended.
A specific Professional Service pack is also available in some countries. It includes a 3 days coaching installation that helps any first time install. Contact your local Alcatel-Lucent representative for more information & availability.
Is the offer available for all partners?
Yes. Within each country where the BiCS is offered, it is available to all Premium / Expert partners. Is there a team dedicated to support the solution? Who should we contact?
From technical point of view, regular welcome center and technical support staff fully support the solution. As BiCS is a specific implementation of application, a dedicated team is assigned to support all BiCS specific issues, in addition to all regular application support. From business management point of view, all local representatives can help.
What certification level do I need as a prerequisite?
At least one Premium certified person, on either OXE, and/or UC. No extra certification is required beyond the products.
As a platform-independent solution, how will Alcatel-Lucent ensure the performance and reliability of the whole system?
The product is designed to be as versatile as possible, allowing virtually any PC-based system to run it (providing it complies with minimum requirement required). However, to ensure reliability and performance, BiCS is sold with a pre-installed hardware server. Alcatel-Lucent provides a fully-integrated platform based on brand name professional rack or blade server. The official list is available in the product description documents.
We do not recommend nor support any installation on another hardware platform than the recommended ones.
What is the licensing model? Do I (or the customer) have to pay for un-used embedded software (including OS).
NO. Similar to existing Alcatel-Lucent applications, all software rights are controlled through purchased licenses and software keys. The customer pays only for what he wants to use.
IMPORTANT: every BiCS is delivered with free software licenses that allow you and your customers to test new applications without the burden of server deployment.
Is there any demo kit I can purchase?
I’m a service provider. Does BiCS target pure IT partners?
A specific offer, called On Demand Communication (ODC), is available to ensure a very fast business operation of selling BiCS. It handles the pre sales complexity, and as it is based on a per user approach, the quotation & configuration of any mid market system is reduced to its minimum. ODC fully embed BiCS as the preferred, easy to sell, solution.
What kind of quotation and configuration tools will be adapted for BiCS?
BiCS is fully integrated into the ACTIS quotation and configuration tool, as well as the Online eQuotationtool (the ultra simplified quotation and configuration tool used with ODC). .Like other solutions, a customer proposal leaflet can be generated with ACTIS. Does a BiCS configuration supports user profiles?
As BiCS integrates packages, it cannot supports user profiles. Final pricing is however consistent with a user profile approach.
How BiCS is protected?
BiCS is protected through software licenses and software keys as well as a hardware USB dongle. I’m a carrier. Can I offer the BiCS solution in hosted mode?
Yes. BiCS supports on-premises management, remote management as well as management from the service provider premise. Thanks to the support of up to 32 media gateways and the Passive
Communication Server, a server hosted mode can easily be made. From a commercial point of view, the ODC offer can be used to simplify the sales cycle and customer offer (per user license model). Moreover, the blade option provide a cost effective solution that suits data center hosting. How software evolutions are supported ?
BiCS does include SES by default for the 1st year. This means that any BiCS purchased can be updated following SES rules. These SES apply to each application included (OXE, 4760, UC, Fax server). There is NO BiCS software by itself, meaning that there is no BiCS SES. Access to latest features and provisioning level is however possible providing they are compatible with hardware capabilities. A specific document is available that includes all upgrade rules and software support rules.
How hardware evolutions are supported ?
BiCS uses a market standard server. As technology evolves, the server would evolve at the same time. The rules of change are following generic Alcatel- Lucent rules about hardware support. See specific document that describe hardware upgrade rules.
What is the migration path from BiCS 1.x and 2.0/2.1 to BiCS release 2.2? From 1.x to 2.2 :
All migration path are described in the product description document. Migration is possible depending on the server actually in use, and amount of memory installed.
From 2.x to 2.2 :
Do licenses need to be renewed annually?
No, licenses are “one shot buy”, with no need to be renewed. However, support of application can be provided through SES (SES needs renewal).
What end points / trunck interfaces are supported
Full OXE technologies are embedded into BiCS, including IP, SIP, H323, analog, TDM, SIP truncking, analog trunking, Tx/Ex interfaces…
Who is responsible for IBM’s BiCS hardware? What happens during failures during deployment?
ALU has set rules with IBM for maintenance. All rules are described in a separate document available on BP Web site . This includes “what to do”, “who to contact”, “time to answer”.
Can the free UC and CC licenses be shown in Actis? This demonstrates 0 cost to the customer.
