Service Bulletin Library

Given the seismic shift in market demand, preferring cloud-based phone solutions to premise-based ones, Effective April 16, 2024, NEC has made the strategic decision to cease the manufacture and support of all premises-based telephone systems.  And More recently, NEC also announced their exit from the cloud-based business phone market.

So, what does this mean for NEC's cloud-base phone system owners of UNIVERGE BLUE?

UNIVERGE BLUE's name changes to Intermedia starting in 2025: Starting in 2025, Intermedia will take over direct management and support of UNIVERGE BLUE's Cloud-based platform.  The fact is that UNIVERGE BLUE has always been a service that resided within Intermedia's own telecommunication services platform.  So, this is more of a rebranding move for current users.

LegacyCare Guidance: “Facts About NEC’s Exit From Phone Systems Marketplace”   (Updated 12/04/2024)

Given the seismic shift in market demand, preferring cloud-based phone solutions to premise-based ones, Effective April 16, 2024, NEC has made the strategic decision to cease the manufacture and support of all premises-based telephone systems. Moving forward, NEC’s business communications focus will be exclusively on their UNIVERGE BLUE Cloud-based platform.  NOTE:  More recently, NEC also announced their exit from the cloud-based business phone market.

So, what does this mean for premise-base phone system owners?

1. No new equipment orders starting 2025:  NEC will no longer accept new orders for on-premise products after December 31, 2024.  This includes: New System Sales and Add-on Hardware, like voicemail, handsets/terminals, circuit packs, and cards.

2. 15% price increase for all purchases starting in 2025: There will be a 15% price increase on CPU upgrades and any new licensing which goes into effect on January 1st, 2025.

3. No Tier 3 Support starting in 2030: NEC will discontinue hardware and software support services for all on-premise products after March 31, 2030.

4. No system licensing purchases for existing systems starting 2030:  Additional Purchases have been extended to 03/31/2030

5. No CPU upgrades for existing systems starting 2026:  CPU upgrades are now available for purchase through December 31st, 2025.  NEC's has announced price increases.

6. No software updates starting in 2030: Software Maintenance and Software updates have been extended to 3/31/2030.  And new purchases of Software Assurance (SWA) that provides those software updates and access to Tier 3 support with NEC will end of 12/31/2025.  NOTE: you would need to purchase a 5-year SWA agreement in 2025 to receive software updates and Tier 3 support into 2023.

7. Continued Tier 1 and 2 Support from the LegacyCare for NEC team at Clarktel:  Clarktel and LegacyCare for NEC will provide continued Tier 1 and 2 support for NEC Premises-Based Systems; even beyond March 31, 2030.  For customers who choose to continue operating their NEC premises-based systems, rest assured that LegacyCare and Clarktel will continue to provide service and maintenance. We have committed to maintaining adequate inventory and supply resources, while available, to support these systems.

Not sure what to do?  No problem, just reach out to the LegacyCare Guidance Team at Clarktel to discuss your options.

NEC Corporation of America announces the End of Life (EOL) for the UNIVERGE SV9100 GCD-CP10, a central processing unit.

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End of New Sales Announcement:

The  UNIVERGE SV9100 GCD-CP10 was announced as End of New Sales (EON) on  November 20, 2020, and manufacturing ceased on December 31, 2023.

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Recommended Upgrade:

The recommended replacement is the SV9100 GCD-CP20, a more powerful and Ray Baum’s Act compliant CPU.

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Benefits of Upgrading:

• Seamless  integration with NEC’s UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT BRIDGE for a unified  communication experience including voice transmission, chat with AI  Assistant, audio/video conferencing, and file sharing/backup.

• Compliance with Ray Baum’s Act, enhancing employee safety by providing a "dispatchable location" for emergency calls.

• Most licenses and hardware can be transferred, protecting existing investments.

Support for Non-Upgrading Customers:

NEC  offers to waive the Software Assurance (SWA) reinstatement fee until  December 31, 2024, for customers who choose not to upgrade immediately.  End of Maintenance and Support is scheduled for December 31, 2025

Contact us at 330-869-8657 to schedule a consultation.

Important Update on Your UM8000 Voicemail System

It's  crucial to inform you about significant changes to the UM8000 Voicemail  System, which has reached its end-of-life (EOL) status.

What This Means for You:

1. End of  Support: The UM8000 system will no longer receive software updates or  bug fixes after 12/31/2023. This means potential risks like voicemail  outages or loss of saved messages.

2. Limited Repair Options: Post EOL, obtaining replacement parts will be challenging, and complex issues may not be resolvable.

Your Options:

1. Do Nothing: This involves assuming all risks associated with continuing to use the UM8000.

2. Mitigate Risks: Schedule a maintenance appointment with us to upgrade your system to the latest software version for stability.

3. Migrate  to InMail (VM8000): A fully supported solution with essential features,  albeit fewer than UM8000. We'll assist in transferring your voicemails  and configuring the new system.

4. Shift to Cloud: Consider moving to NEC’s UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT for a future-proof, cloud-based solution.

If you adopt NEC's recommendation to move to InMail, here is what will change for you:  InMail vs. UM8000:

• InMail offers up to 240 hours of storage compared to UM8000's 500 hours.

• InMail supports up to 128 mailboxes, suitable for smaller setups.

Take Action Now:

To avoid  disruptions, we recommend discussing your options with us. Our team is  ready to guide you through the pros and cons of each option and ensure a  smooth transition.

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Contact us at 330-869-8657 to schedule a consultation.