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IP Convergence

Beat the Rush

7/1/2008

By Joseph C. Panettieri

Software Considerations

In addition to putting the proper network infrastructure in place, universities may also need to adjust their existing applications or deploy new apps that can ride across unified networks. At Hofstra, for instance, the university hopes to "create a 'physical free' environment wherein users have full access to all forms of messaging in all locations, from a single device in real time," notes Juckiewicz. With that goal in mind, the university migrated to a hosted Microsoft Exchange environment for faculty, staff, and administrative messaging, and Google Apps for student messaging and collaboration. "The Exchange environment will provide the software platform necessary to enable the UC features we desire," says Juckiewicz. "We also are actively migrating the campus to an Active Directory environment, to ensure the reliability and security of our network. As all of these components unfold, we will have constructed an infrastructure to fully exploit the features of unified communications."

Driving Revenue-- and Campus Safety

While unified networks can save money through lower phone bills and reduced administration costs, the networks also can unlock new revenue opportunities while potentially improving campus safety. BlueWater's Cagnazzi notes that some universities are evaluating online advertising opportunities to help offset lost revenue from in-dorm phone services. "The hottest thing now seems to be advertising and interfacing with outside services like the local pizza place. This creates a revenue model for the schools which can supplant the lost revenue due to the prevalence of student cell phones versus the use of dorm phones."

At Hofstra, administrators also are looking at global positioning system solutions to enhance student safety. Using a unified network and students' own mobile devices, "Students would be able to notify Public Safety of their whereabouts and be tracked for safe arrival to locations on campus," says Juckiewicz. "We are striving to provide a ubiquitous wireless network as well as reliable access to cellular carriers, to create the kind of mobility necessary for anywhere, anytime communications."

Ultimately, Hofstra's network also will strive to support a broad range of devices, rather than university-mandated appliances. "We don't feel we can impose a single device on all campus users," Juckiewicz observes. "We continuously press the carriers to conform to some form of standard across devices, particularly in light of the urgency associated with emergency messaging on campuses today."

Clearly though, success won't arrive overnight. The path to UC requires careful planning, proper infrastructure, and clear business goals that can take several months to develop.

::WEBEXTRAS ::
4 Steps to Unified Communications
University of New Mexico Pilots Unified Communications System

Joseph C. Panettieri is editorial director of Nine Lives Media, and has covered the business of IT since 1992.