Nortel introduced the Norstar Telephone System in May 1987. To say the product was well-received is a vast understatement. Not only did it immediately rocket Nortel from a nobody to the leader in small business telephone systems, it became the world's most popular small business phone system ever.

The Norstar technology set the industry on its proverbial ear. Here are some of the more substantial breakthroughs:

• Norstar was the first system to ship with all full-featured LCD speakerphones
• Nortel introduced the concept of Automatic Set Relocation which vastly simplified moving telephones without the need for a vendor visit
• The Norstar had a removable software cartridge so that upgrades were simple and inexpensive
• Nortel created the first menu-driven phone user interface, winning the Norstar numerous design awards and adulation of countless users
• And possibly most importantly, the Norstar was a tank, nearly indestructible. Customers were able to experience a whole new level of reliability and stability in their telephone system.

However, like all things technical, the Norstar product has reached the end of its lifespan. In 1999, Nortel introduced the Business Communications Manager (BCM), a system that took the best of the Norstar and added in the technology of Voice Over IP. Over the past seven years the BCM has developed into a vastly superior product while the marketplace has abandoned the old technology. It is widely expected that the Norstar will be discontinued in 2007, however practically speaking, the product is already finished. There are very few businesses who will knowingly invest in last generation technology.

Yes, you can still find the Norstar system for sale by unauthorized service companies who are selling gray market equipment. And yes, they'll all claim to be a factory certified, authorized Nortel Dealer! However, you will not find a single legitimate, Nortel-authorized vendor actively selling the Nortel Norstar today.