Used Cisco, Extreme Networks, Foundry, F5, Compaq, Nortel at Network Liquidators

Understanding Meridian Phone Systems

Most people will describe their phone systems as Nortel Networks, Northern Telecom, or Meridian Phone system. With so many options out there, it's easy to see how someone can get confused. But don't fear, we can sort this out together.

Nortel Networks used to be Northern Telecom some many years ago. Northern Telecom... northern tel... Hey! Nortel! That's a pretty slick abbreviation. Good job marketing department, that's a pretty catchy name. I love when marketing people come up with things that make you step back, and just admire the brilliance of the idea. Like the marketing department for Budweiser. Even if you don't like beer, those guys just know how root their commercials into pop culture. Remember the Budweiser Frogs? Brilliant! Hey, that's another ad campaign that rooted itself deep into pop culture. Then you have the other kind of marketing approach. You know, the guys who think up those annoying ads. Yes, those ads. The ones that make you want to Hulk smash your TV because they are just that annoying. Like the people over at Quizno's who thought using ugly, screeching, hamster looking things. Seriously, what the heck were they thinking? It wasn't bad enough that the commercial itself made your ears feel like they were being stabbed with a hot soldering iron, but they played it over and over and over again. Somehow thinking that it would be better the 50th time you saw it.


Anyways, now back to Nortel. Nortel is one of the largest phone system manufactures in the world. They make everything form central office switches, to Norstar and Meridian business phone systems, to single line residential phones for home use.

So you want to upgrade or expand your Nortel phone system? The first thing you need to do is find the model number. This will put you on the path to buying a compatible phone system. If you order the wrong model, then well, it might not work at all (now who would of thought that?).

Be careful about buying Meridian, thinking it will work. Just because your phone says Meridian, doesn't mean you can go out and buy another Meridian phone. Nortel decided it would be a great idea to call almost everything in the business phone world, Meridian. Chances are, if you have a Nortel phone system, you have a Meridian phone. Meridian was put on everything from Centrex phones, to Norstar Phones, to SL-1 PBX phones, and of course, there are Meridian phones. Confused yet? Don't worry, you're not the only one.

Now look at the bottom of the phone. Sometimes there is a model number. The model number reads something like this, M7324, M7310, M7208, M7100, T7316, T7316e or T7100. By the way, if it has any of the model numbers listed it's on a Norstar phone system.

Here are some of the Meridian PBX and SL-1 model numbers: M2008, M2006, M2616D, M3901, M3902, M3903, M3904 and M3905.

and finally here are some model numbers for Nortel (and Aastra) Centrex phones: M5316, M5208, M5008, M5312, M5216, M5212, M5209, M5112, M5009, M9417CW, M9316CW, M9110, M9116, M9120, M8004, M8009, and M8314.

Remember, there are many more model numbers that I'm not listing.

Now if you can't find a model number, try finding a part number. It will almost always begin with the letters NT followed by several numbers and letters. If searching for your part number brings back your part number with a dash and two digit number, don't worry. That 2 digit number is just the color code. For example, the part number NTMN34BB may return a result for NTMN34BB-70. This would be a charcoal Meridian M3904 phone.

Hopefully this will help with your confusion and to better understand Meridian phones a little bit better.