Extending Traditional Desktop Office Communication Systems

Chuck Harden, System Analyst

Nick Kwiatkowski, System Analyst

MSU Telecommunication Systems

• Delivered Services Include– Avaya Campus PBX ~8,000 Users– Centrex Voice ~17,000 Lines– Voice Mail– Campus Television/Video Distribution– Cellular Contracts– Wireless Systems– 2-Way Radio System– 24/7 University Operator – Campus Fiber and Cable Distribution

Achieving Mobility

• Requires transition to a new voice communications platform

• Identify data requirements that support the new platform

• Design and develop mobile solutions to serve the MSU Community

Some of our challenges to provide mobility solutions

• Existing standalone voice systems

• Centrex voice services

Standalone Voice Systems

• Limited features and functionality

• Scalability restrictions

• User training and support

• Voice mail distribution

• Reduction of services

• High maintenance costs

Centrex Voice Services

• Service Delivery– Limited features and functionality

• Service issues– Dependency on outside vendor for service

delivery– Vendors outside plant and lack of redundancy– Repair delays

• High costs– Regulatory charges

Campus PBX Solution

• Operational Requirements

– Maintain existing dial patterns for campus users

– Campus voice mail system integration

– Provide Enhanced 911 to all users

Campus PBX Solution

• Technical Requirements– Carrier grade equipment to the endpoint– VOIP to the cabinet via redundant fiber rings – Private voice/data network– Redundant standby servers over multiple

locations– Redundant Telco network connectivity– UPS battery back-up – Utilize existing and future wiring standards

Campus PBX Solution

• Why use the Campus PBX?– Ease of use– Standardization of services– Disaster recovery applications– High worker productivity– High level of customer service– Mobility Solutions

What is MSUmobility?

• The MSUmobility platform allows campus users to use their communication systems from another desk, another campus, or across the world

• Most features are developed for the Campus PBX system– Notable exception is Unified Messaging

What is MSUmobility?

PresenceInstant

Messaging

SoftphoneTemporary

RemoteWorker

UnifiedMessagingVoicemail

RemoteDialtoneRemoteWorkers

EC-500Cellular

Integration

MSUmobility

Unified Messaging

• Allows users to remotely access voice mail messages from any internet connected computer– Utilizes either Internet Explorer, Firefox to

check messages– Can forward voicemails to mail.msu.edu,

Yahoo, Hotmail, G-Mail, or other approved email servers on campus

– Can integrate with Microsoft Outlook

Unified Messaging

• Additional Features:– Call-Me – While on campus, visually pick

which messages you want played back– Update Voicemail greetings using the Call-Me

Feature, or via your computer’s microphone– Save voicemail messages as .WAV files for

extended storage

Unified Messaging

<Demo>

EC-500 Cellular Extension

• EC-500 (Extension to Cellular) is a feature that allows you to integrate your cellular telephone with your desktop phone.– Cell-phone vendor agnostic

• Allows you to have a single number of contact.

EC-500 Cellular Extension

• People tend to have great memories for cell phone numbers they are were given once– Why not just give your office phone number

instead!– You control when the calls flow out to your cell

phone

• When you call any number on the Campus PBX, your desk number shows up, not your cell number.

EC-500 Cellular Extension

• Extend-Call allows you to ‘transfer’ your call that you are on your cell-phone to your desk phone.– The reverse is true.

• This is perfect for IT professionals who have equipment in another area– Think: Tech-support calls

• Single voice-mail box for work.

EC-500 Cellular Extension

<Demo>

SIP Hard-phones

• We can allow for any SIP telephone to be able to be used as an extension of your desk telephone.

• Useful for workers whom would need to be able to work from a remote location, such as an off-campus office or home.

• Calls placed on the SIP telephone allow for 5-digit dialing; calls to the user’s campus number arrive at the hard-phone.

SIP Hard-phones

• All that is required is a SIP compatible IP Hard-phone, and a broadband internet connection.– Some internet connections may not be optimal for this

service, please speak to our consultants before assuming service.

• Supported devices include the Cisco ATA-186, Linksys SPA2002, and the Avaya 4610– Other phones may work, but have not been certified

to work with our system.– ATA devices allow you to use any analog telephone

SIP Hard-Phones

<Demo>

SIP Softphones

• SIP Softphones allow for temporarily mobile users connectivity back to their MSU telephony solutions.

• Windows or Mac software application that allows the user to place and receive telephone calls, or check voicemail while away from their office.

• CounterPath’s X-Lite is certified to work, many software packages are supported.

SIP Softphones

• All that is required is a broadband connection, and the software loaded on your PC– You may want to purchase a headset solution

for better quality conversations

• Allows for conferencing, transferring calls, activation of certain ‘power’ features, and call recording

SIP Softphones

<Demo>

SIP Presence

• In addition to allowing the use of “Presence” or Instant Messaging via the SIP protocol

• Any SIP based IM client can be used• Use your MSUnet ID, or 5-digit campus

telephone number as your user id.• Also, check the status of others who use

the application. On the phone, busy, free, etc.

Campus PBX Costs• $9.25 per month for admin user

– Includes:• Individual campus number• Caller ID• Voice Mail (unified messaging included)• 6 Port conferencing• Please note – (LD and local usage charges not included)

• Telephony system initial charges (about $700 per station)• Installation• Licensing• Hardware and supporting electronics• Training

• $50 one time set up for MSUmobility add-on package– SIP Hardphone, SIP Softphone, Presence– EC-500

Contact MSU Telecommunication Systems

• More information available on our website at : www.telecom.pp.msu.edu

• For consulting, please contact:– Email: telesyst@pplant.msu.edu– Phone: 3-5515 (353-5515)– Fax 3-6633 (353-6633)