It Ain’t Over, Til It’s Over

By Mark Evans | Published: November 2, 2009

Here’s a guest post from Jeff Wiener, who runs Digitcom, a telecom equipment reseller. Jeff also writes The Telecom Blog, one of Canada’s leading telecom-focused.

Yogi BerraOddly enough, there still seems to be a steady stream of press releases, product update notices, and new wins for Nortel which can be found on their web site (click here)

Why ?

I understand that many firms have an extremely vested interest in Nortel hardware, need software updates or some new features, and a fork-lift upgrade is too cost prohibitive. But new wins ? Why would a company, given the choice among Cisco, Avaya, Mitel, Asterisk and so many other viable brands, choose to deploy a NEW Nortel solution ?

And then the next question is – why is Nortel still introducing new product updates for some of these products?

Nortel is in a precarious position at the moment. They need to continue developing products, updates, and position new sales opportunities in light of the pending sale of the optical networking and carrier Ethernet divisions, and on the enterprise side, the sale to Avaya could, or might not officially close. It’s not a done deal until it’s done. They need to continue developing products to keep the company and division sale prospects alive.

I’m still surprised that from a competitive perspective, companies are still entertaining new Nortel systems. Where at one time I would see Nortel positioned in every opportunity, I now see them 1 in 5 times. But I’m still surprised that: there are companies considering new Nortel systems, and even more, that there are North American dealers that still only position Nortel in new opportunities. What should an exclusive legacy Nortel voice or data dealer do at this point ? I suspect that many are hanging on stubbornly until the very end. But why, I haven’t quite figured that out.

Picture 20In addition, Nortel is still sending out email notices with new product announcements, and oddly enough, new training classes for their products. Again, I guess there are dealers that need to get their older legacy technicians trained.

The irony is, the company is dead. They are closing shop. Yet, over the last 2 weeks they made 12 announcements. As Yogi Berra said “It ain’t over till it’s over”.

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  • Nortel watcher

    Once some of our folks transfer over to the buyer companies like E///, Avaya, etc. it will be interesting to learn how salary levels look before and after assuming the same job title is maintained.

    I think NT folks going to Avaya will likely see lower offers than those going to E///.

  • whopperscan

    Yeah that's Enterprise… where sales do continue, although a much lower levels that before chapt 11. To be fair, it's a credit to those involved that they could win sales at all. But nevertheless, they are Enteprise… high volume, relatively low value, high cost in needing large numbers of staff, low profit…

  • NortelTragedy

    I know at least three admins going to Ericsson … zero technical, engineering or operations experience. Others are old CVAS managers with no wireless experience, much less CDMA. It's all who one knows. E/// has much to learn about what they've purchased.

  • NortelTragedy

    Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine from '48-'65 …

  • Darth_Zman

    CVAS as pointed out on some comments is a viable business. I work for CVAS in sales. My customer is buying new solutions, new software, strategies based around this for 2010 and beyond.

    Why? Pragmatism. My customer and those around the globe know that CVAS is going to stay around whether I go in with a Nortel Business card or some other label I will still be selling and showing my customers how they make money from our market leading solutions.

    I hope the buyer who buys CVAS recognises the products, the people and most of all our loyal customers.

    Our software release messaging, products solutions, wins are business as usual (maybe not made simple) – keeping customers loyal.

  • Nortelian

    Cite Avaya all you want. I work on the carrier side of the business. You're the one at a loss my friend because you're out of touch with it. I have a global ID, and have worked in NT sales since the 80's. Still there. I change my Norpass pwd twice a year and file my expenses via EVS weekly. If I gave you my name you could look me up in OSM. Oh, and I just made my 2010 benefit selections using employee self service.

    You know nothing of what our carrier customer's sentiments are. If you knew what you were talking about, you would know that Nortel does not work through resellers in the carrier voice business. We sell direct and maintain long established customer relationships.

    You behave like a troll who has never been face to face with a customer. My customers aren't dropping like flies. My customers have been patiently waiting for a stalking horse bidder to be announced. There is pent up demand for Nortel carrier voice switching that will be realized once the bidder & auction dates are announced.

    You seem to like to paint all of Nortel with the same broad brush, ignoring the distinctions between carrier, enterprise, and corporate functions. Doesn't really matter how many posts you may have on AAN, you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to the carrier business. Doubt my status as a sales employee of Nortel all you want….. makes no difference to me.

  • Nortelian

    Oh no, you've claimed to be a CVAS sales rep. You've just lost all credibility with protosphere!

    I agree with you though. CVAS customers are buying and those that haven't have been waiting patiently on the sidelines for some certainty around the business. Contrary to what many on this board would say, our carrier voice customers have been & continue to be loyal, not dropping like flies as many would claim.

  • Still_waiting

    Or like a hail Mary pass from your own 40 yard line with no time on the clock and 4 points down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ykWbu2Gl0&NR=1…
    Just saying…. America loves an underdog …….

  • justcurious2

    Actually, this ain't over till it's over works for baseball because you can continue scoring forever as long as you don't get the 3rd batter out… However, if you're playing hockey or football, it is a run against the clock….

  • zeroman

    shuffling through the revolving door.

  • zeroman

    there maybe some sales people who work hard at getting customers. but there are also many who only are trying to show a lot of orders in the pipeline to transition to the new company to keep these going.

  • zeroman

    a day in infamy Dec 7, 2009.

  • NortelEmp

    In the documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama ” there is a long close-up on a Nortel phone.

    Best the Nortel marketing folks have no idea.

  • Darth_Zman

    water of a ducks back for a sales guy….

  • less

    Call me cynical but I don't see much value in sales touting “she's still a Chrysler under the hood” either.

    http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/report-chrys…

    I'm curious as to how sales intends to justify them should a scant few of these new but already-proven-superior Nortel products handle like, say, Windows Vista by Microsoft, the recognized global leader in OS?

    Will they wax nostaglic, blaming inferior namebrands Avaya, Ciena, etc. for diluting their Nortel product, for lacking the expertise to evolve it and therefore jealously treating it like a bastard stepchild? Surely not.

    I'd replace the cocky “This is old-school Nortel stuff” pitch with “Avaya recognized its value to customers and decided to support this product and its ongoing evolution together. We, Avaya employees, stand behind our Avaya products.”

  • GoProto

    I'd replace the cocky “This is old-school Nortel stuff” pitch with “Avaya recognized its value to customers and decided to support this product and its ongoing evolution together. We, Avaya employees, stand behind our Avaya products.”
    ————————————-
    Yes, agreed.. well isn't this exactly what did happen? Whether it was a prudent move by Avaya remains to be seen, but they certainly do intend to bring value and build on a future ~ a new concept for Nortel employees , current and ex, to contemplate.. if they so choose.

  • GoProto

    Yep, Zero provided the missing piece to the “Greed Knows No Bounds” Jigsaw puzzle.. he seems to have been just the right fit..

  • less

    Do you have the talent to help drive our success? Explore the advantages that come with working for a global internet and communications powerhouse.

    http://www.nortel.com/employment/

    All (9)
    Brazil/Sao Paulo (1)
    India/Bangalore (6)
    India/Gurgaon (2)

    Cue the collective whimper of submission symbolizing them other telecoms.

    90,000/9 ten years ago wasn't all that, but, buddy, 30,000/9 sees the hiring ratio increased threefold. 30% is a bad number when Cisco uses it by sucking that much more juice from all nations' power grids than their conscientiously leading competitor, Nortel.

  • less

    With less ex Nortel employees able to see their docs its improved indeed…

  • GoProto

    Thanks.

  • less

    ' course Nortel invrariably conjures an image of the panhead screw: http://www.jensonusa.com/product/bn/BN408Z00___…

  • GoProto

    Nice, Less. Thanks for the smile … ; o )

  • GoProto

    Nice, Less. Thanks for the smile … ; o )

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