UMKC started testing VOIP with a small pilot in June of 2000.
The technology seemed to fit well with the expansion of the Northland project
where we would begin teaching classes at a new location about 20 miles north
of the main campus. A cost analysis should that a VOIP solution for
the Northland site was less expensive in the long run due to cost savings of not
having to lease both voice and data circuits to the remote location. The
combination of a renovated area allowing for a new structured cable system, a relatively
small number of users, and a new network infrastructure at the site lent it self
well to a pilot VOIP project. Equipment was ordered and started arriving
in August of 2000. Networking/Telecommunication technical staff installed
the hardware and software and started testing features, functionality, and integration
with our existing PBX. The equipment included Cisco's Call Manager in a redundant
cluster, a digital gateway to interface with the PBX, 3524 in-line power
switches and 7960 IP phones.
Click to view a drawing of the VOIP
project at the Northland Campus.
By October of 2000 we had a completely working VOIP phone
system integrated with our PBX and voice mail system. A full range of
features were available including; call forward, call park, call pickup, call
transfer, call waiting, conference, meet me conference, redial, speed call, view
missed, received, or placed calls; just to name a few. You can also
forward your phone, change your password, or change your speed dial buttons
through a web page.
By April of 2001 we had 30 VOIP phones in 4 different
buildings including Northland campus, Newcomb Hall, Twin Oaks and the
Administrative Center. Web services are now available and sending text
informational messages or announcements to the phones.
Click to view the VOIP presentation made
at the Great Plains Network spring meeting hosted at UMKC on April 19th and
20th, 2001.
In August of 2001 we installed more phones at Twin Oaks in the
Administrative office and the Medical School advising office. Then in
September we installed VOIP phones at the KCWAIT office located in Pioneer
College. This make 5 different locations and 40 VOIP phones installed so
far. The University is currently saving over $3,000.00 per month in line
and phone charges by using VOIP phones at these sites vs a tradition phone
solution.
Click to view a drawing of the entire
UMKC VOIP network.
More information will be posted here as testing and
roll out continues.
