New unified communications service offers better communication and collaboration

Kent State's new phone system will improve communication
and collaboration throughout the university.

Kent State University is migrating to a new unified communications service that will replace the existing phone system and offer advanced, integrated and mobile communication services that improve communication and collaboration throughout the university. The Division of Information Services is leading this initiative, which will run through June 2014. All offices on the Kent and Regional Campuses will be migrated to the new system in phases due to the nature of the equipment involved in the migration.

“The university is ready for a communication system upgrade to help members of our Kent State community perform their jobs better,” says Jason Wearley, executive director for the Division of Information Services infrastructure services. “The new unified communications system that we are introducing will replace the university’s aging communication equipment; integrate campus computers, phones and messaging; provide enhanced productivity tools for our faculty, staff and students; and gives us the framework to install industry-standard telecommunications infrastructure in new and renovated campus spaces.”

Faculty and staff will have the option of a physical phone, software phone only, or both. In addition to new phones, the new system offers other features, such as:

• Voicemail also appearing in email
• New messaging client with integrated phone control
  
• New desk phone and/or software phone with enhanced features
• Impromptu phone conferencing available for up to eight individuals
• Caller-ID history appearing on both phone and computer
• Place and receive calls from computers and mobile devices
  

“The new system integrates your computer, phone and messaging for anytime/anywhere communication,” says Marianne Cohol, project manager in the Division of Information Services. “You have the ability to create a personalized work environment that enables you to communicate and collaborate in an environment that works for you. Thus far, those who have been migrated to the new system have been very pleased with the new functionality, the ease of use and the integration with other tools they were already using.”

Some of the sites that have been converted to the new system include Kent State University at Ashtabula, Kent State University at Geauga, the Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg, the Executive Offices on the Kent Campus, Harbourt Hall, The Tannery and Student Legal Services.

For more information about the new unified communications system, visit http://ucsupport.kent.edu/.