Longwood's New Telephone System             

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we replacing our current telephone system? 

The current telephone system was installed in 1989 at the University.  Though it has been a reliable system over the
 years it is no longer supported by the manufacturer nor can we procure replacement parts for it. 

What kind of service will our new telephone system provide? 
The new service will be Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP is a technology that allows you to make voice
calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (analog or digital) phone line.  One of the purposes for VoIP is to allow corporations to reduce their long distance toll calls by using the existing network infrastructure.  Most phone calls that the University will make will still utilize standard telephone lines, however if you know that the location
you are calling has VoIP then those services can be utilized.  Some of the current state agencies are utilizing VoIP so be sure to check. 

When will we start using the new telephone system?
We are currently programming the systems now and are scheduled to install the new telephones beginning July 23, 2007.  The phones may be used on campus until July 29^th when we are scheduled to completely have the system online for external calls.

Will the phones on campus be replaced?
Yes, all digital phones (cream colored Meridian phones) on campus will be replaced with new VoIP phones
EXCEPT for the following areas:

1)      Athletic Trailers – this area will maintain digital service and have new digital phone.
2)      Printing Services – this area will maintain digital service and have new digital phones.
3)      Residence Hall Front Desks – these areas will utilize analog service – existing phones will be
      replaced with analog phones
4)      505 Pine Street – this area will maintain digital service and utilize existing phones
5)   509 Pine Street - this area will maintain digital service and have new digital phone.
6)      Off campus facilities

Will analog phones be affected?
No, analog phone service will not be affected.

What does the new phone look like?
  

What are some of the features of the new phones?
All new phones will have display, speaker phone,  call transfer, etc.  The same base features that the current phones have.  In the near future VoIP phones will allow you to retrieve your voice messages from your email account.  These messages will appear as wav files.

Will voice mail be affected?
Yes, we will utilize an entirely new voice mail system. 

I am not on campus this summer and I currently have my voice mail greeting set up
to reflect my absence.  Will my greeting be lost when we switch over to the new system?
Yes, when we make the switch over to the new system – all voice mail greetings and messages on
the old system will be lost. Users WILL have the capability to set up their new voice mail remotely.  
If you wish to set up your new voice mail remotely, please do not do so until after 5 pm on Saturday.
The temporary pass code for your voice mailbox is 12 + your four digit extension. You will be
prompted to change your pass code the first time that you log on to the system. To record your voice
mail greeting press 82 then 1 and follow the prompts.

Will services for students in the residence halls change?
Students will continue to utilize analog service in the residence halls and will continue to provide
their own phone.  Voice mail service will change. Students will utilize the same voice mail system
as faculty and staff.  

More Questions?????? 
Contact User Support Services at (434) 395-4357
or email helpdesk@longwood.edu