Utah State U Adopts UC System To Streamline Production, Cut Costs

  • By Sharleen Nelson
  • 08/05/13

Utah State University (USU) has replaced its obsolete communication system with a low-cost, Web-based unified communication (UC) system designed to automate campus-wide operations.

For the project, USU adopted UC system provider ShoreTel's suite of business communication and collaboration voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) solutions, which include ShoreTel IP-PBX  with integrated unified communications, ShoreTel Enterprise Contact Center (ECC), ShoreTel Mobility, and ShoreTel Conferencing, as well as implementation and professional services support.

Integrating communications, enterprise applications, calendaring, and workflow into one environment, the ShoreTel unified platform provides voice, video, mobility, instant messaging and collaboration, and scaling with plug-and-play across sites and locations. System operation tasks are managed within the company's ShoreTel Director, a Web-based application for managing and configuring users, devices, and applications across the entire enterprise

Currently, ShoreTel has completed installs for 3,600 USU phones, with deployment of mobility and conferencing underway.

"ShoreTel was less expensive to purchase and install than other UC providers, and we are seeing other cost benefits as well," said Amy Kitchen, business officer, information technology at USU, in a prepared statement. "ShoreTel is easy to administer and does not require the IT man power of other solutions, since users can do many tasks on their own. Along that same theme, the solution is so simple to use. Initially staff were skeptical about having to learn a new system, but the feedback has been very positive and everyone loves its ease of use."

Utah State University is a public research university located on a 400-acre main campus in Logan, UT, with regional campuses located in Brigham City, Tooele, and the Uintah Basin. Approximately 29,000 students are enrolled in liberal arts, engineering, business, economics, natural resource sciences, and elementary and secondary education programs. USU has an annual operating budget of approximately $187.6 million.

For additional information about ShoreTel, visit shoretel.com.

About the Author

Sharleen Nelson is a freelance journalist based in Springfield, Oregon. She can be reached at [email protected].

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