New Telephone System Information
From Enterprise IT Services Helpdesk
Contents |
Project Overview
The project, which will take approximately 12 to 18 months, will focus on upgrading the current UGA telephone system for Athens campus PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and UGA Griffin Campus. The new system will provide numerous enhancements as follows:
- Improved support for UGA call centers
- New Voicemail System
- Enhanced 911 system that provides emergency responders with the exact location (building and room #) of the caller
- New Work Order Management System
- New Inventory and Asset Management System
- New Billing System
The next-generation telephone system will support traditional analog, digital, and VOIP (Voice Over IP) telephone sets. During the course of the project it is estimated that 6,000 phones will be replaced with either digital or VOIP technology. A detailed planning effort will be accomplished with Department Telephone Representatives (DTR) to help formulate both the timeline for departmental cutovers and the changes to phone handsets.
Project Schedule
The project is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months to complete, and officially started January 7, 2011. The following phases represent a high-level description of the project and a detailed timeline will be developed and made available in the near future.
- Project Plan Development and approval
- Network assessment
- Core telephone system replacement
- Departmental data collection with DTR’s
- Departmental training
- Building Level Transition Phases
- Project wrap-up
DETAILED PROJECT TIMELINE COMING SOON
FAQ
Q: Will I need to learn anything new?
A: It depends. Any user with a voicemail box will have to learn an easy set of voicemail access processes with slightly different options than the current system (new voicemail instructions link). If a user’s phone is replaced, there will be training and instruction materials provided to support the transition. If a user continues to use an analog phone with no voicemail there will be no change.
Q: Will I get a new phone set?
A: Possibly. The project was approved with approximately 6,000 new digital phones to be distributed across campus departments based on need (to be assessed during the DTR engagement phase). This initial deployment will raise the percentage of digital phones throughout campus to provide ~60% total coverage. The project includes a very limited number of VOIP handsets that will be concentrated in test bed areas. Future installation(s) of VOIP phones will be dictated by specific departmental need and/or new building construction.
Q: Will I still be able to use 5 digit dialing for on-campus numbers?
A: Yes. Once fully deployed you will be able to continue to use 5 digit dialing to reach numbers on the residential campus. This feature will also be extended to the UGA Griffin campus once the integration and project is complete.
Q: Do all the current digital sets need to change to an Avaya 2420 large digital set?
A: No, the 6424D sets will work on the New Telephone System.
Q: Can a digital set be programmed to monitor off-campus number?
A: No, the user can only program a speed dial button (AD button) to speed dial an off-campus number.
Q: Can a digital set be programmed to monitor a campus number in a different department?
A: No, the user can only program a speed dial button (AD button) to speed dial a campus number in a different department.
Q: Can the department request new Avaya 2410 and Avaya 2420 sets to keep in storage for future use?
A: No
Q: Will there be a cost related to switching from an analog to one of the new digital phone sets?
A: Maybe, The new Telephone System project was funded to replace approximately 50% of campus analog phones with digital ones. During the implementation digital phones will be distributed in cooperation with Department Telephone Representatives based on need. After the initial implementation/transition period there will be a cost for purchasing a digital phone set.
