The device enables data, voice and application functionality, including VoIP, Internet access and advanced telephony features, such as unified messaging.
BCM 50 is the first low-end box from Nortel and will cost between $350 and $500 per user for customers with three to 20 users.
BCM 50 is not a scaled-down version of its higher-end BCM 200 and 400 counterparts, said Richard Solosky, Nortel director of portfolio marketing. The new device has the same functionality as the enterprise versions, but was designed with cheaper components, such as digital signal processing chips, Solosky said.
Also, BCM 50 uses a Linux-based operating system to drive down its cost. Nortel plans to release a Linux-based version of its BCM 400 and BCM 200 later this year, Solosky said.
