For the fourth time in my thirteen years at the University, we are installing a new telephone system. Though calling it a telephone system is misleading, as it is an integrated VOIP communication system. Or so we were informed at yesterday's "training" session.
The system can do everything except make coffee (big failing, that), or so they say. Phone calls, multi-person conference calls on the fly, instant look up of phone numbers, group directed call pick up, instant messaging, notification of the status of the potential callee, complete blocking of all incoming communication (handy feature, I'm sure) and much more. Color me underwhelmed.
Our office is fortunate: we are receiving actual telephone handset units. Many offices on campus are not. The new fangled way they need to answer the phone apparently involves either annoying your coworkers (and compromising confidentiality) by always using speaker phone through your computer, or constantly wearing an equally annoying bluetooth headset. Either way, you could approach someone's office and think they are talking to themselves.
Note that responsibility for our communication systems fall in our IT Services department; have you ever met a computer geek who didn't always want the newest and most over-functioning device? They are already talking about buying the next generation of handset units - which are currently in pre-production. Our budget director had a few choice words on that subject.
The major drawback to the system is its reliance on the computer network. In order to make or receive phone calls, your computer needs to be on. In our office, that won't be an issue, at least until we have one of our semi-annual network outages. Our building is far, far away from the rest of campus, with the data lines running under the street. The street that is dug up with great regularity by the utility companies.
The cut over for our area should take place between now and 10:30 a.m.
If you need to reach me after the conversion, send a letter.
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