College Replaces Conferencing Service With Unified Communications Solution

Overview

Canada-based Georgian College offers degrees in fields such as business, engineering, and design. Previously, workers on its 11 campuses communicated mainly by e-mail or phone, hampering long-distance collaboration and isolating workers based on outlying campuses. Employees used a third-party conferencing service, but it required IT department assistance and administration. With help from Dell, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Georgian College deployed Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 with voice over IP, instant messaging, presence awareness, and conferencing. Now, communication is more efficient. The college has eliminated its external conferencing service, saving U.S.$4,300 annually in conferencing costs, and it has reduced travel for a savings of $16,600 a year.