Why Buy NEC?

NEC - the Manufacturer

Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. (later renamed NEC Corporation) was founded in Japan as a joint venture with Western Electric Company of the United States back in 1899. NEC has now been manufacturing phones for 100 years, with manufacturing facilities around the world. 

NEC Key Systems

In the United States, NEC began selling highly reliable key phone systems in the 1960's long before the break up of AT&T. NEC came out with the first "skinny wire" key system, the Electra 28 in May of 1978. This system used 4 pair of wires to provide talk back inter-com. Production on the Electra 28 ceased in 1983 after the introduction of the 1648. A few Electra 28 systems are still in service and hundreds (thousands?) of NEC 1648 systems are still in service.  In November of 1978, NEC introduced the first digital key system (Electra 100) that used two pair of wires and could hold up to 30 phone lines on a single phone

Why should you buy a NEC PBX?

NEC PBX systems manufactured since 1983 made it through the North American Numbering Plan changes (new Area Codes) without any upgrades required due to NEC's flexible customer data base. (Most other brands did not fare as well). Some predict we will need to go to 4 digit area codes or some other expanded numbering plan in five years or so. Will your phone system be able to handle this?

NEC PBX systems manufactured since 1983 appear to be Year 2000 compliant. No upgrades are needed. Some peripherals (voice mail, call accounting software will require updates). (Most other brands do not fare as well).

NEAX 2400 systems manufactured since 1983 can reuse most of the original circuit boards in an upgrade. (Try that with your current brand).

NEC is currently the 3rd largest selling brand in the United States

NEC Authorized Distributors

In order to insure quality installation and long term technical support, NEC CNG phone system products are only sold through factory authorized distributors. Some other brands of phone systems can be purchased "over the counter" or from various supply houses.

This commitment by NEC to quality installation and support has made NEC a recognized name in the industry. Dealers are chosen based on technical support, financial stability, and their ability to provide long term quality support to their customers.

Authorized Distributor Requirements

In order to become a factory authorized distributor, dealers must commit to:

• Spare parts inventory to handle typical disasters
• Prompt service for emergencies
• Mandatory Technician training - NEC's National Training Center in Dallas and other cities
• Product training for sales staff

These requirements insure that independent dealers make a significant commitment to the NEC product line and their NEC customer base.

Master Tech Program

NEC Dealers that handle the NEC 1000/2000 PBX are becoming involved in the NEC/NECDA Master Tech program. This program was designed for dealers by dealers based on an extensive survey and meetings between NEC and the NECSI Training Committee during 1997.

One tech trained from each company for 12 days. Only techs that have already attended regular classes can sign up. Additional 3 days of "Train the Trainer". Each Master Tech provides local expertise for techs in his company with added priority support from NEC if a problem develops that he cannot resolve.

Master Techs can train and NEC certify their own techs in the field. This enhanced training provide faster local customer support for technical problems that can arise in the field as digital systems become more complex.

In order to facilitate two way communications between manufacturer and distributors, NEC agreed in 1991 to work with a Dealer Council, to represent factory authorized NEC CNG phone system dealers.

Unlike most other "dealer councils", the NEC group is not operated by NEC, but is funded and operated by the independent NEC dealers who have joined NECSI and pay annual dues to support the dealer council.

This independently operated dealer council has provided a number of unique benefits to both NEC and it's dealers.

Dealer Council Functions

Product input from the field - Dealers provide input on features needed. This is very unique in the industry. Dealer Council members have surveyed dealers over the years and prepared a priority list of new features requested by customers in the field. NEC has been very responsive to these requests.

Many features on NEC systems today came from customer requests in the field coming through the dealer to NEC product managers through the Dealer Council!

Coordination support for Multiple Location Accounts. Your local NECDA member can arrange for installation and maintenance of NEC systems all over the U.S. and Canada.