VoIP Analysis 12/31/09

The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Planning Analysis project is closing. The FIP group worked with the Network and Client Services group to elavuate potential products and services. A recommendation for standardization of a VoIP product was approved by IT management and is moving forward with a pilot implementation in the WDCE project at Takoma Park. Network and client Services have forwarded requirements to the FIP group for including VoIP requirements into both the Rockville Science Center and Germantown Bioscience Center project cost estimates. FIP anticipates completing the IT standard project close out documentation for the VoIP Planning Analysis during the spring of 2010.

VoIP Analysis 12/1/09

The VoIP analysis is closing.
A pilot implementation project has been approved for in Takoma Park as part of the Work Force Development / Continuing Education (WDCE) relocation. A separate blog has information on the specific project. Future meetings with IT Network Engineering and Client Services as well as IT Management will work to identify a strategic roadmap for potential future projects that may offer avenues for the future deployment of VoIP at the College.

VoIP Analysis 10/19/09

• The Gartner Analyst met with College IT staff in September to answer technical implementation questions.
• Network Engineering and Client Services have received approval to move forward with a pilot project for VoIP telephones in the WCDE renovation at the Cafritz Foundation Art Center in Takoma Park.
• Verizon project planners and technical engineers met with College IT staff on October 12 to review step by step connectivity required in HSC for connecting and upgraded SV8500 to the network fto support IP telephony. As outlined in this meeting no additional network infrastructure will be required within the Cafritz building, all of the infrastructure and connectivity to the network will occur in the HSC MDF.
• Network Engineering and Client Services announced during TARGET meetings in October that VoIP was the direction for telephones in all new construction and renovation projects.

VoIP Analysis 8/31/09

A preliminary review by IT management of the work group recommendation has resulted in approval for a pilot implementation of the SV-8500 in a TDM mode. Further strategic planning for the deployment of SV-8500's either in a TDM or VoIP mode was deferred until after a Gartner review of the analysis and recommendation. Gartner's response via e-mail concurrs with the College position of staying primarily with TDM at this time. A Gartner analyst will be on-site in late September to review the entire analysis and answer questions in person.

VoIP Analysis 7/22/09

Vendor meetings for the collection of information, potential designs and cost estimates have been completed. IT technical staff have met and reviewed the potential solution proposals and a recommendation for direction is being carried forward to IT management for strategic direction approval. Next steps beyond strategic direction approval are;

• A potential pilot project on the Takoma Park campus
• A future implementation project to replace the existing Distributed Communications Servers (DCS's) on the Takoma Park campus which are facing end of support.
• Potential future projects to address longer term telephone issues on the Rockville and Germantown Campuses.

No timelines exist for any potential future projects at this time.

VoIP Analysis 7/7/09

Vendors met with the College in late June to provide additional information and detail to their solution proposals. An internal College meeting is scheduled for later in July to review the separate vendor proposed solutions and estimated costs.

VoIP Analysis 6/11/09

A meeting was held on June 10, 2009 between the College, Presidio and Cisco. The vendors reviewed the current proposed design and cost quotations for a potential VoIP pilot for the WDCE project in the Cafritz Building. Discussion regarding the design and quotes revealed the following information needs more development;

• What network is the potential pilot anticipated to be deployed on
• How are VoIP desk insturments anticipated to be connected (wired)
• Designs and quotes cover specific voice infrasturcture, project spcefic basic network infrastructure has not yet been designed
• Equipment and integration from Verizon will be required as well as from network providers.
• Sizing and scale of VoIP equipment may drive costs
• Licencing pool sizes need to be determined for initial project and costs
• Speapate technical work sessions are required to work through numerous application integration questions

Follow up meetings are being scheduled through the Network and Client Services.

VoIP Analysis 6/8/09

There is no change since the previous posting.

VoIP Analysis 5/26/09

Verizon in conjunction with Cisco and NEC made product presentations on both VoIP and TSM systems in early May. NEC has announced end of regular manufacturer support for the NEAX 2400 PBX product line as late fourth quarter of 2011. New products are being introduced to leverage the existing installed base of NEC PBX's to continue without the need for a complete system replacement. The College is looking to have developed a direction recommendation for long term voice strategy to mangement by mid-summer 2009.

VoIP Analysis 4/16/09

The vendor presentation scheduled for April 21, 2009 has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts, this was to be with Verizon. Questions raised by vendors preparing cost estimates are being routed through Network Engineering for responses. There has also been a question raised concerning specific types of IP desksets. This has been refered to the telephone operational group for comment. At this time the College anticipates having responses back for all vendors regarding proposed solutions and cost estimates by late May 2009.

VoIP Analysis 3/30/09

The Presidio Corporation and Cisco met with the College to exchange information on potential VoIP scenarios. The College presented an overview of the current telephone network along with future expectations for growth. Presidio and Cisco described in generic terms where VoIP implementatios were, what the future of the PBX market appeared to be, what some of the possible scenarios were that the College might consider to leverage the existing installed telephone and data networks over the next several years. The College asked for some preliminary cost models to be developed over the next few weeks. Other vendors are preparing similar overviews and presentations for the College to consider and compare. Once information is gathered from several sources it may be used as input for a future long term strategic plan to leverage the College investment in both voice and data networks.