Florida University Deploys Enhanced Communications System
Barry University, a four-year Catholic university located in Maimi Shores, FL, recently enhanced its campus phone system with a fixed-mobile convergence solution in an effort to streamline phone communications for its faculty and staff.
The institution has deployed AT&T Dual-Mode Mobile Voice (DMMV), featuring technology from ShoreTel. The new solution, which works with the university's existing Avaya IP PBX and WiFi network, supports WiFi calling, according to a statement released Tuesday by ShoreTel. Calls made over the WiFi network don't count against the user's monthly cell minutes.
Faculty and staff can also now maintain a single contact number, according to Hernan Londono, associate chief information officer for Barry University. Faculty and staff no longer need to distribute cell and office numbers since the new system can route calls to the user's smartphone. Users can also access the PBX system's features, including conference calls and directory search, right from their smartphone, from any location on campus.
"Now students can call the extension and the support person will receive the call, regardless of where they are." said Londono. "It's more convenient for everyone; students get through and staff can respond without rearranging their schedules. With DMMV, smartphones connect to the same Voice over IP (VoIP) network as our phone system, so our staff can provide support without having to worry about whether or not they’re over their cellular minutes."
Barry University, with more than 100 degree programs, serves 8,500 students from its main campus in Miami Shores and through its satellite locations across the state and in the Carribean.
More information about ShoreTel and AT&T's communication solutions can be found online at the companies' Web sites.
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Kanoe Namahoe is online editor for 1105 Media's Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].