During Christmas break, Kapi‘olani Community College updated its phone systems by installing a voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) system. Even though the update happened months ago, the planning for newer technology started several years ago.
At KCC alone, there were 500 to 600 phones installed, said Jesse Andow, IT specialist.
The system continues to be run by Hawaiian Telcom.
The new system is a bit simpler than the previous in regards to the wiring and phones installed around campus. Since the buildings are older, there were more wires to deal with when installing the old system, the new one simplifies the process, only requiring one wiring set.
Having been transferred onto one network system, the campus Internet should not be affected because of the increased network bandwidth, according to Andow.
The change to the VoIP system was system wide and happened on all University of Hawai‘i campuses. The update was done at the system level and included all community colleges. UH Mānoa, however, is still in its conversion period from the traditional phone system to the updated.
This newer system is easier to install compared to the traditional phone system, which involves buying a separate jack for each of the phones and computers. There were data jacks already installed in the rooms, some already with network connections on campus.
“(The) phone data and computer data are on one network,” Andow said.
On the new phone systems, when the extension is punched in, the name assigned to that number appears, and the caller will know who they are calling. The database information was inputted from the old phone system.
In similarity with the old phones, to dial a number outside KCC the process is still the same.
Some new features that the VoIP phones have include newer phones, a new display and several different little features users can program or manually perform.
“The biggest difference for a lot of people is the display,” Andow said.
There are perks to the newer phone systems. It’s easier to move the phones around physically and no longer requires moving pairs of wires and reconnect certain things after they are moved. Users now have the option to use speakerphone, caller ID and plug the phone into a computer if there are no network jacks.
Steve Harris, Maida Kamber Center for Career Exploration, Transfer and Graduation counselor, said he likes the new phones.
“(Previously) the vacation message, you could program ending date and time and it would automatically roll back to normal (when you return),” Harris said. “This one you have to do it manually.”
Though there have been some difficulties along the way with the new system, the new phones are seen as a new addition on campus.
“The phones look nice,” Harris said. “It is nice to see the phone number.”
When the phone base was being created, what appeared on the screen depended if a department is being called or if the caller is trying to reach a faculty or staff members personal office phone.
Though a new phone system was just installed, there has been some discussion of additional capabilities of new add-ons, Andow said.
Because the change happened at system level, the possible additions are not finalized.
“(They) are just doing research, to see if it’s what they want,” Andow said.
Some faculty think the phones don’t need any more improvement.
“I think the phones are just fine,” Kawehi Sellers, hospitality and tourism instructor wrote in an email. “Really, when it comes down to it, we need to be available to our students, peers and community.”