WOW Marty...live in the now
I think it was 1999 when they didn't support faxing or modems.
ATA - individual box for analog devices (support protocols H.323, MGCP. SCCP)
VG248 - 48 port analog station gateway with Amphenol ends to 66 blocks. Also has 2 async ports for SMDI replication and stacking (protocols MGCP and SCCP)
VG224 - IOS based analog gateway with 24 ports through an amphenol end (H.323, MGCP, SCCP)
They do have an R&D arm ya know, it's not like they build something in 1998 and never update it. The VG248 and ATA were purchased but the VG224 was home grown.
If you look at the Mericom report again you will see that in the scoring Avaya, Mitel and Cisco were all a wash in Features. Features really are not a distinguishing factor any longer, neither is interoperability. I doubt there are too many systems where they have not integrated.
Naturally I live in the Cisco world but really, I would never assume Avaya hasn't overcome the old knocks on it, like PoE, the need for a Cajun, lack of Voice Vlan support. Obviousy they must have figured these things out in the last 9 years.
Ok so one other thing - The Feds PBX1 cert is a very complex deal. It requires more than just security (features, interoperability, standards support) So check it out. I think Cisco then Sphere got certified and they are the only IP Tel ones I have heard of.
http://jitc.fhu.disa.mil/tssi/apl.html