UNCF Implements Internet Telephony

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 06/25/09

UNCF--the United Negro College Fund--has partnered with iCore Networks to implement a centralized phone system using a concept the vendor calls Voice over Private Internet (VoPI). In a VoPI scenario, communications are done on a dedicated circuit.

"iCore's VoPI system will enable UNCF to integrate its telephony system at headquarters and its branch offices nationwide," said Michael Lomax, the organization's president and CEO. "This will allow our entire organization to operate seamlessly and more cost-effectively."

Currently UNCF is using multiple phone service providers to handle the telephony needs of its 20 locations throughout the United States. Each service provider has a different billing method, different available features, and different price points.

The new service, which is hosted by iCore, will allow four-digit dialing between all UNCF offices and unlimited local and long distance in the United States. iCore's system also provides an Auto Attendant that has the ability to route calls to locations and individuals as designed. The organization will use Cisco phones, although the iCore services will work with phones from any voice over IP vendor.

UNCF supports 39 member historically black colleges and universities in acquiring the resources necessary to provide students with a high quality education.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • AI robot with cybersecurity symbol on its chest

    Microsoft Adds New Agentic AI Tools to Security Copilot

    Microsoft has announced a major expansion of its AI-powered cybersecurity platform, introducing a suite of autonomous agents to help organizations counter rising threats and manage the growing complexity of cloud and AI security.

  • college building with a central domed rotunda, arched windows, and columns, overlaid with glowing blue circuit patterns

    Kishwaukee College Moves to Ellucian Colleague SaaS

    Illinois's Kishwaukee College is modernizing its administrative systems with an Ellucian Colleague SaaS rollout that will bring AI-powered tools to human resources, finance, and student management.

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.

  • SXSW EDU

    SXSW EDU 2025 on Higher Education and Ever-changing Technology

    Join education's most passionate community this March 3-6, 2025 at a special 15th-annual SXSW EDU Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas.