Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
IP Convergence
Beat the Rush
7/1/2008
Open Alternatives?
As Cagnazzi hints, some universities are testing open source solutions for their unified networks. Admittedly, some open source solutions are "use at your own risk" options that can deliver poor phone and IP service because they lack enterprise support. However, one company, Digium, has successfully pushed its open-source-based UC solutions into the higher ed market.
Digium builds its IP telephony solutions on top of Asterisk, an open source IP PBX. While dozens of companies support and promote Asterisk to varying degrees, Digium is widely considered the poster child for the Asterisk community. "If you're looking for an open source IP PBX, the first provider you'd likely call is Digium," remarks Ed Golod, president of consultancy Revenue Accelerators. True believers include the University of Pennsylvania, which worked closely with Digium to jointly develop a campuswide unified messaging component using Asterisk. The university launched a 750-person Asterisk pilot program in 2005, reports Dikran Kassabian, a senior technology director. Initially, the Asterisk-based system delivered better telecommunications service for the same ongoing costs of the university's traditional system. However, in the long term, the Asterisk-based solution is expected to drive down costs because the university will avoid the need to fix aging in-ground copper connections for its phone systems, Kassabian explains. The ultimate goal is for Asterisk to allow U Penn students to make free phone calls and access university apps directly from their phones.
Unified Players: A Sampler
- Adtran. This IP telephony specialist targets midsize organizations, and has successfully carved out a niche for itself as a lowercost alternative to Cisco Systems, in some settings.
- Avaya. Now privately held, Avaya is one of the few big, traditional telecom equipment providers offering hybrid products, and allowing universities to mix and match traditional phone equipment with VoIP solutions.
- Cisco Systems.With WebEx acquisition and increased focus on software partnerships, aims to ensure converged apps can ride across Cisco-driven VoIP networks.
- Digium. Pioneering IP PBXs based on Asterisk (an open source telephony platform). Very popular in small businesses and gaining interest from universities that are already familiar with Linux and have open source mindsets.
- IBM. The Switzerland of the UC market, IBM has relationships with most major industry players, including Cisco and Microsoft.
- Microsoft. Aggressively promotes Office Communications Server 2007 as the de facto platform for unified communications. Has strong enterprise partnership with Nortel Networks, delivering end-to-end hardware and software solutions in the unified market.
- Nortel Networks. Close relationship with Microsoft has raised Nortel's visibility in the unified communications market. Plus, Nortel's heritage in traditional telecom has given the company a natural entry into some universities.
- ShoreTel. Focuses mostly on small businesses, but has successfully targeted some smaller departments within major universities, colleges, and community colleges.
Recommended Reading
- Get Users on Board
- Greening IT
- It's a Zinch
- Meeting up Virtually
- Online Tutorials to the Rescue
Now's the time to use online tutorials to streamline professional development and help desk management.
- Retention Rx
