Beginning January 9, all Vet Med Faculty and Staff that have existing phone numbers will be activated to use Unified Communications via the Microsoft Lync application. Faculty and Staff that currently lack office phone numbers, along with graduate and professional students, will be activated to use Lync at a later date. Computing Services will be installing the Lync software on necessary computers prior to January 9. The Vet Med UC Coordinators group is working to identify UC device (headsets and handsets) needs, procurement and distribution.

Why is this happening?

By converting to Unified Communications and removing traditional phone lines, the University expects to see a $3M annual savings. Additionally, the use of Lync will provide uniform telephone, instant messaging and other services across campus.

What you need to do:

When you leave for the day on Thursday, January 5, reboot your computer (Windows computers only); this will install the Lync software automatically. Service area computers in VTH and lab computers in BSB will not be affected. If you are out of the office at this time, simply start or reboot your computer when you return.

Important things to remember:

- Phones are NOT being deactivated at this time. We will be in a transition period for several months, during which you will be able to use both Lync and your existing traditional phone to place calls. You will receive ample notice before your phone is disconnected.
- When you are Lync activated, you will receive an email from CITES that provides instructions on how to forward your traditional phone to Lync. You should follow these instructions only once you have a UC device (headset/handset). Save the CITES email for future reference.
- If you use the Lync software to call someone else that has been activated on Lync, it will not ring their traditional phone. If that person does not have a UC device for use with Lync, they will not be able to take your call. Instead, you use your traditional phone to call them.

If you have questions regarding Unified Communications, please contact Computing Services at net@vetmed.illinois.edu or 217-333-1533. Below are links with useful information regarding Unified Communications:

CITES Unified Communications home page: http://www.cites.illinois.edu/uc/
Unified Communications FAQ: http://www.cites.illinois.edu/uc/uc-faq.html
UC Devices and pricing: https://wiki.cites.uiuc.edu/wiki/display/OCSTrialParticipants/UC+Device+...

Stephen Kemp
Computing Services