New PBX Telephone System

Following an extensive evaluation process that began in March 2005, Fairfield University purchased a state-of-the-art PBX telephone system at the beginning of the fall semester. The elaborate bidding process began with six competing proposals from a wide array of vendors and manufacturers. At the end of the first round of evaluations, three finalists were selected and were requested to demonstrate the equipment being proposed. As a result of this detailed analysis, SBC was the successful bidder on the basis of their extremely strong proposal, both from a technical perspective and also from a financial viewpoint. They are providing Fairfield with a NORTEL 1000M PBX system, which will include their CALL-PILOT voice mail system and a new call accounting system. This equipment will provide expanded and improved voice services to the more than 5000 telephone extensions on campus.

The "cutover" or conversion from the existing telephone switch to the new SBC/Nortel system is a huge undertaking and will require the cooperation and understanding of all campus constituents so as to minimize the inevitable disruption that will surely take place. Training in the use of the new handsets and voice mail will be conducted by SBC personnel and will begin on January 4^th, 2006. All users are requested to follow the link http://www.fairfield.edu/phones to register for one of the classes..

We anticipate that the installation of new telephones will take place during the first two weeks of January but prior to the start of the Spring semester. The features of the new telephone system will be highlighted in both the training sessions and in the next issue of the newsletter.

back