Unified Communications: Campus Phone System to Be Upgraded in 2022

Over the course of the next year, the campus phone system will be upgraded to a new unified communications environment that meets our campus communication and collaboration needs and further accelerates UMass Amherst’s digital transformation.  The project is expected to be completed by the end of August 2022.

The upgrade provides new horizons for agile growth, responsiveness to emerging customer and business needs, and faster deployment of new features. Additionally, the new service offers a superior, convenient user experience to members of the university community, while meeting their evolving productivity needs.

Phone capabilities can be accessed from most devices anywhere and can seamlessly integrate with popular communication and collaboration technologies, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The features of the traditional desk phone, such as voicemail, are available from most computers or mobile devices. Other related service offerings, such as emergency calling and contact centers, will remain available in the new environment.

Vendor selection and technical assessment of the UMass Amherst environment are currently underway. Updates will be provided as the project continues and more information becomes available. For details, see the IT Strategic Initiatives page and the Unified Communications Project page.