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Microsoft unified communications

Help simplify and streamline communications for education institutions.

 

 
 
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  Microsoft Unified Communications  
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  Microsoft UC Datasheet 2007_EDU.doc
Microsoft Word document, 188 KB
 
 
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Microsoft unified communications solutions

Microsoft unified communications (UC) technologies help educators, administrators, and staff members streamline communications—regardless of medium, platform, device, or location. Users can stay in touch and get work done wherever they are, using whichever device is most convenient.

The solutions break down silos and extend existing communications investments. With a UC solution, you can:

  • Enable staff to get more done by giving them easy access to e-mail, calendaring tools, voice mail, and instant messaging (IM) through multiple devices, so they can communicate with each other in different ways.
  • Make it easier to collaborate with colleagues at different campuses or schools, using audio/video Web conferencing technologies.
  • Allow staff the mobility to spend more time with students, parents, and colleagues.
  • Simplify IT management by using single technology architecture.

Solving real-world challenges

Microsoft unified communications can help you solve the communication problems on your campus by making it possible to:

  • Reduce infrastructure cost and consolidate third-party solutions.
  • Increase productivity by streamlining access to people and information across multiple modes of communication.
  • Provide the levels of reliability, availability, and scalability you need to manage your university or school.
  • Provide your institution with the security needed to help manage specific areas of risk.
  • Enable you to address compliance, retention, and privacy policy requirements for your institution.

Key benefits

With Microsoft unified communications, you can replace conflicting systems with a single unified platform that:

  • Streamlines communication. UC combines e-mail, instant messaging, voice, audio, video, and Web conferencing into a single system.
  • Integrates with the Microsoft Office system. Educators and administrators can communicate with click-to-call functionality and presence information from any Microsoft Office system application. They are probably already familiar with these applications.
  • Grows with your institution. UC provides a software-based solution that works with your existing hardware investments and can grow as your institution does.
  • Helps increase security. UC solutions use encryption technologies to help make sure IM, e-mail, and VoIP messages remain secure and provide compliance across all communications.

Customer success case studies

Indiana University saves time and increases productivity with Unified Communications.
To help mobile workers communicate, the school integrated communication tools and enhanced collaboration by integrating its voice network and computer applications. The solution streamlined and enhanced communications for employees and increased their productivity. It also reduced travel time and costs and simplified IT administration.

Hoover City School District saves $150,000 in maintenance costs with Unified Messaging.
Hoover City Schools in Alabama wanted to give its faculty and staff more flexible ways to communicate, in addition to replacing its voice-mail system. The district deployed a unified communications solution that gives faculty and staff access to voice mail and e-mail through one system, making them more accessible to their students’ parents. The IT department no longer has to maintain separate systems and can work on other projects to improve the district’s infrastructure.

Tracy Unified School District consolidates backup systems, reduces IT workload, and lowers costs with Unified Messaging.
Tracy Unified School District in Northern California wanted to provide more flexible ways for users to communicate while eliminating high-cost phone lines. It deployed Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 with Unified Messaging. By replacing its existing unified messaging and outdated voice-mail systems, the district expects a one-time savings of U.S.$168,000 in licensing costs and an annual savings of $126,000 in telephony costs. The district also estimates that cost-saving features, such as enhanced Web access and automated management tools, will save approximately $195,000 per year in staff time.

Next steps

More education solutions

Connected learning communities
Managing the institution
Microsoft Dynamics Education IT
 
 
Request information
 
 
Related link
 
  Try Microsoft Unified Communications for 30 days  
Webcasts
  Download  
  Microsoft UC Datasheet 2007_EDU.doc
Microsoft Word document, 188 KB
 
 
Proven Results
 
  Read more Unified Communications case studies  
 
Products
 
  Get readers  
   

The following Microsoft partners offer Microsoft unified communications solutions for education:

AT&T
(800) 248-3632
Benefit from access to a single source for comprehensive local, national, global, and wireless services. AT&T provides an industry-leading portfolio of advanced IP and traditional networking solutions for both voice and data. Services are matched with an array of consulting and management services, providing institutions with professional support options for every element of network planning, design, deployment, and ongoing management.

Avanade
(206) 239-5600
Avanade can help you achieve your goals with a collaboration and communications solution that is cost-effective, easily integrated, and scalable, enabling users to share information more efficiently across your institution.

CDW
(800) 808-4239
Education institutions continue to look for ways to reduce the cost and complexity of their computing infrastructure so resources and personnel are freed up for more strategic initiatives. CDW's holistic approach to virtualization and optimization is unique, covering servers, storage, and the network. CDW understands the critical role communication plays, and they understand that unified communications is poised to change the way institutions communicate.

CDW-G
(800) 808-4239
CDW-G is a leading provider of technology and service solutions for business, government, and education. We help customers achieve their goals by providing them with the technology advice and products they need—when they need them. CDW-G is a comprehensive provider of Microsoft Information Worker services and licensing solutions with extensive implementation expertise, strong Microsoft relationships, and personal customer service.

DynTek
(949) 271-6700
DynTek is a leading provider of professional technology services to government, education, and commercial entities throughout North America. As a Microsoft Gold partner, DynTek has a highly trained technical delivery, account management, and customer support team that specializes in a broad spectrum of Microsoft solutions for information workers, unified communications, security, and advanced infrastructure.

EMC Corporation
(866) 438-3622
EMC Corporation is a world leader in products, services, and solutions for information management and storage. We are a trusted provider of information infrastructure, helping institutions of every size keep their digital information protected, secure, and continuously available. EMC combines platforms, software, and services into high-value, low-risk information infrastructure solutions that help institutions maximize the value of their information assets, improve service levels, and lower costs.

Enabling Technologies
(800) 923-4310
Enabling Technologies is a global IT consulting practice specializing in speech-enabled applications, e-mail, voice mail, fax, instant messaging, and messaging compliance applications. Whether your challenge is receiving and responding to important messages on the road, complying with regulatory and SOX requirements for electronic discovery, implementing a unified and collaborative messaging architecture, or eliminating spam, we have a history of delivering a tailored, proven solution.

FTDATA, Inc.
(410) 451-0202
FTDATA is a Microsoft Gold Partner headquartered in Laurel, Maryland, specializing in Active Directory Directory Service design and implementation upgrades and migrations, Microsoft Exchange Server architecture and implementation, institution requirements analysis, return on investment (ROI) and network assessments, IP telephony, architecture and design, performance optimization, multivendor integration, and computer room design.

Gold Systems
(800) 988-7798
Gold Systems is a unified communications specialist and a Microsoft Gold Certified Managed Partner, developing voice-driven communications solutions utilizing interactive voice response (IVR), text-to-speech, and speech recognition. Offerings include packaged applications and customized contact center solutions built on Microsoft Office Communications Server, unified messaging deployment and telephony interfaces, and password management for telephone-based self-service.

GTSI
(800) 999-GTSI
GTSI is education's source for IT infrastructure solutions delivered by professional and financial service experts using a technology lifecycle management (TLM) approach. TLM allows government agencies to implement solutions of national and local significance quickly and cost-effectively. GTSI uses proven, repeatable processes to design, deploy, manage, and support each solution.

InfraScience
(866) 485-0815
InfraScience, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, provides consulting services to help institutions maximize return on their infrastructure investments. The company's scientific approach provides a secure, stable, and optimized environment. InfraScience specializes in Microsoft technologies and has proven success in unified communications.

Intellinet
(404) 442-8000
Intellinet is a seven-time Gold Certified Partner driven by one simple idea—that promises kept are the most powerful competitive advantage possible. One of only 25 U.S. Voice Partner Program Specialists, the company's focus is on architecting, implementing, and improving its clients' institutions through unified communications.

Logista
(888) 292-7643
Logista is a nationwide leader in providing IT solutions. The company's central focus is to help companies develop structured support mechanisms for managing multisite, multivendor environments; streamline complex technology projects; and implement optimized support systems based upon financial goals and measurable service levels.

Magenic Technologies, Inc.
(763) 398-4800
Magenic Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1995 in Minneapolis as a technical consulting firm focused exclusively on Microsoft technologies. While Magenic has grown rapidly, it has continued to differentiate itself by maintaining a very close working relationship with Microsoft and creating an unmatched pool of expertise in all Microsoft development technologies.

Nortel
(800) 466-7835
Through Nortel's alliances with world-class enterprise software developers, including Microsoft and IBM, Nortel is delivering unified communications solutions that help higher education institutions enhance collaboration, increase mobility, and deliver new value to students, faculty, and staff.

NSPI
(800) 783-3871
NSPI has been a leader in the implementation and support of quality technology solutions for over 20 years. The company has a strong dedication to excellence in service and ethical institution practices, along with its comprehensive and cost-effective solutions.

NWN Corporation
(781) 472-3400
NWN Corporation provides clients with a complete range of networking services and solutions. NWN brings its clients some of the premier products in the industry, tailored to their specific needs and situations, including technologies from Cisco, Microsoft, EMC, HP, and many others.

Peters and Associates
(630) 832-0075
Peters and Associates assists schools with systems design, integration, and operation. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, Peters and Associates has significant expertise in facilitating parent, student, and teacher interactions in a growing online environment. Peters and Associates is also versed in helping educators align curriculum with technology standards. Peters and Associates was named Microsoft National VAR Partner of the Year for 2005.

Planet Technologies
(301) 721-0100
Planet Technologies understands that technology alone is not enough to provide customers with useful, manageable, and often visited collaboration sites. Planet has extensive experience in the design and management of SharePoint portal solutions. By offering a complete life cycle of portal services, Planet is able to meet the needs and budgets of a wide range of customers.

Presidio Networked Solutions
(301) 313-2000
By joining disparate networks carrying voice, data, and video traffic into a single unified network, institutions can enable new applications, increase productivity, and lower operational costs. Presidio Networked Solutions is a leading provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications and the convergence of voice and data over a data infrastructure.

Resolute
(877) 376-5883
Resolute is a business and technology consulting firm providing integrated solutions. Resolute leverages its specialized expertise in custom development and learning services to deliver end-to-end institution solutions. Resolute increases organizations' productivity by optimizing their voice and data-centric information and distilling it into knowledge provided to workers through user-friendly technology.

SyCom Technologies
(804) 262-7100
SyCom Technologies is a network infrastructure company focused on providing technical expertise and services for multiplatform, multivendor networks to organizations ranging from midsized to Fortune 1000. SyCom has the expertise to help you put in place the technology that can effectively meet your institution's unified communications needs.

TekLinks
(205) 314-6600
TekLinks is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner providing IP telephony, network security, data storage, disaster recovery, and hosting services to organizations throughout the Alabama, Mississippi, and the Gulf South. The company's engineers are dedicated to providing best-in-class IT support with an emphasis on service.

Find a partner

Search for partners in the Microsoft Public Sector Partner Solution MarketPlace, a one-stop Web site for finding technology partners that offer a broad range of products, services, and solutions based on Microsoft technologies. The directory includes packaged software, solutions offerings, and training from Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, Microsoft Certified Partners, and registered members.

 
 

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