Enterprise users are waiting for that shoe to drop, says Victor Bohnert, executive director of the International Nortel Network User Association (INNUA).

“We are glad to see Nortel formalizing some of the plans for its business units,” Bohnert said. “Earlier this month at , Zafirovski told our members that Nortel was seeking potential buyers for its business units, this move clearly indicates the implementation of that strategy.

“We continue to wait for news on the enterprise business specifically- and we expect that that news will be coming soon,” Bohnert said. “Our 4,000-plus members rely on Nortel solutions daily to drive their businesses forward - the important thing for them is that the technology survives. This recent move may signal the beginning of the end for Nortel as it exists today. Once a direction is specified for enterprise, we will work with all parties to help guide our members through the transition.”

Schuchart advises customers who had planned to purchase Nortel gear in the current budget year to go ahead with those purchases.

“If you’ve got a Nortel network and you’ve got budget on the books to buy Nortel equipment over the next couple of months, go ahead and do that,” Schuchart says. “Any plans beyond the immediate budget year need to be reviewed.”