Case Study: K-6 School Campus (Multi-Building)
The client required a cost effective telephones for classrooms and feature rich (but user friendly) telephones for administrative offices. As the system was to double as a paging system for the school, internal paging support was also a requirement. VoiceIP solutions proposed an Asterisk based VoIP server with Polycom SoundPoint 301 phones to serve the classrooms. Administrative staff received Polycom SoundPoint 501 phones that feature a full-duplex speakerphone and the ability to handle 8 calls on three line appearances. By using VoIP, VoiceIP Solutions was able to leverage the school’s existing data network infrastructure, which greatly reduced installation-wiring costs. Voicemail features were of concern to the client as they had a number of offsite users. The system installed by VoiceIP Solutions allowed for delivery of voicemail messages as email attachments (unified messaging). This feature allows teachers to receive their voicemail from any place they have email access. An offsite voicemail retrieval phone number also allows users to check their messages from offsite via a standard telephone. Unlike proprietary PBX systems, the Asterisk PBX uses Open Source software. Because of this, the school is not charged additional licensing fees to add more voicemail users or access advanced unified messaging features. In addition to many standard PBX features, VoiceIP Solutions was able to customize the client’s PBX to allow the client to record Snow-Day (emergency closure) messages from offsite. This enables parents who call the school to quickly learn of school closure or delay information, even if staff cannot make it into the office. The telephone system installed by VoiceIP Solutions is an E911 compliant solution that allows a 911 operator to see not only the address where the call originated, but also the exact location (floor & room location). This was especially important for the client, as the client’s previous PBX displayed the address of the main office to 911 operators, regardless of what building originated the call. Being able to send emergency responders to the correct location reduces response time and increases safety. The E911 solution also enables a 911 operator to call back a classroom phone if the call is disconnected, as each phone has its own unique telephone number (DID). Non-E911 compliant systems often display a main phone number to 911 operators, so a disconnected call cannot be returned without help from the school switchboard. Being E911 compliant helped our client to increase safety and reduce liability. The Asterisk based VoIP
telephone system installed at this K-6 educational institution provided
the client with a flexible modern communications system that was
cost effective and met their project goals.
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VoiceIP
Solutions was asked to create a telephone system proposal for a
school campus consisting of 6 buildings that were connected by an
existing Ethernet data network (Fiber-optic and Wi-Fi Links). The
customer has been using an Executone system to provide paging and
phone service to most of the school’s classrooms and offices.
But the school was expanding and needed a modern phone system that
was more flexible and cost effective than their existing PBX.
