Also know as Voice over Internet Protocol or IP telephony, VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that traverses the data network. Traditional phones at UNC connected to our legacy phone switch through dedicated lines using copper wire. IP phones at UNC connect to the new phone switch also known as the CallManager (a server cluster) via the data network cabling. 

From a broad call routing perspective, nothing has changed.  A phone call initiated from on campus is still handled by the campus phone switch.  Our phone switch will still keep local calls local and route external calls to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via a connection from our Telephone Service Provider.
Additionally, VoIP potentially offers significant technological improvements.  For instance, a call may be placed from a computer, a VoIP phone, or a traditional phone using an analog gateway (e.g. fax machines over VoIP connect to an analog gateway). You are able to change settings and configure your phone from your computer’s web browser. Services such as campus directory lookup on the phone help save valuable time.  The convergence of voice and data make it easy to provide caller ID, call waiting, conferencing, transfers and other basic phone functions plus advanced feautures via computer telephony integration (CTI). 

In addition, wireless IP phones can connect to UNC’s wireless network network and enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly. Video can accompany voice traffic as it travels the network.  Voice communication is now a network application just like http, e-mail, and instant messaging traffic.

VoIP helps reduce costs because rather than supporting two separate networks (voice and data), now there is only one cabling/ network infrastructure.  Additionally, phone switch upgrades are less expensive in the VoIP technology.

If you would like to check out the different IP Phones that are available please go here.

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