Queen’s University will implement an enhanced phone service campus-wide beginning in 2017.

With the existing system nearing the end of its life expectancy, Queen’s will adopt Microsoft’s Skype for Business platform, which uses voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP). The new system will be familiar to many campus users; Queen’s currently has 300 unique logins per day to the Skype for Business platform.

“We’re already using Microsoft for many communication avenues like Skype for Business, email and calendaring – the next logical step is to integrate our audio communication into the network,” says Bo Wandschneider, CIO and Associate Vice-Principal (ITS). “This is a really great opportunity for Queen’s to strengthen our collaborative tools suite and greatly enhance the experience of our community.”

After exploring different options for replacing the current system, ITS determined that Skype for Business was the best fit for the Queen’s community. Once implemented, the new system should feature handsets with similar look and feel that campus users are used to in the current system. It will also provide advanced features, most notably the ability to make a phone call from your desktop or mobile device.

This is a really great opportunity for Queen’s to strengthen our collaborative tools suite and greatly enhance the experience of our community.
— Bo Wandschneider, CIO and Associate Vice-Prinicpal (ITS)

For employees who opt to keep a desk phone, a new base model will be provided that ITS anticipates will include much of the functionality that the Queen’s community currently enjoys.

“It is the goal of ITS to minimize the learning curve, although a small amount of retraining may be required for features such as voice mail and call forwarding,” Mr. Wandschneider says.

Implementation of the new system is set to begin in 2017. ITS estimates that it will take three years to install the system in all campus buildings. The system will be encrypted to ensure the security of voice communications.

As the project moves forward, ITS Infrastructure Services will provide regular information updates to the university community. Campus users will also have access to education sessions and training resources as the new system is implemented.

Please visit the ITS website for more information about the Voice Services Replacement Project as well as answers to FAQs.