Rollout of Humber’s new, unified communications solution is progressing as planned.  To date, approximately 25% of Humber has successfully migrated to the new solution.  The full rollout is on track for November.

Unified communications offers many benefits over traditional telephony.   Notable functions and features include the ability to:

• Host and/or participate in audio, video, and Web conferences
• Place and receive calls using your computer or laptop
• Route incoming calls to a smartphone or home office
• Dial extensions by first and/or last name
• Receive, play, forward, and delete voicemail from your e-mail mailbox
• Transfer calls in progress from your desk phone to your smartphone
• Collaborate with others in the organization via interactive messaging

These features were not available on Humber’s legacy telephony system.

Other benefits include new e911 capabilities that will enhance Public Safety’s ability to respond to incidents and new queuing functions/features that will help the Call Centre improve the caller experience.

At this time, Public Safety is also testing a new broadcast messaging feature that will allow text and/or voice alerts through the new phones.  You may see evidence of the testing.   More details will be communicated soon.

Asked for feedback on her recent transition to the new system, Olga Lalka, Director of Marketing, said, “I love getting voice messages as e-mail and how deleting the e-mail automatically deletes the voice message.”

Regarding the new interactive messaging feature, Anna Borg shared with Academic & Educational Technology Committee, “I find the texting quite handy for collaboration.  I use it a lot; it saves me a lot of time.”

“Conferencing is wonderful”, said Eileen DeCourcy, Associate Vice-president of Teaching and Learning, recently.  “It has made collaborating so much easier.  I can also attend a meeting anywhere from my office.” 

Information Technology Services is transitioning a School/Department every two weeks starting with individuals moving to the LRC to align with the move-in schedule.  The focus will shift to the Lakeshore Campus in April.

The School of Liberal Arts & Sciences was the first School to transition to the new services.  Of the transition, Paul Gouveia has said, “It was incredibly smooth.  The team did an excellent job.  We are very happy.”

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Burton, Director of I.T. Planning & Client Services, at Ryan.Burton@humber.ca