ARCHIVED: About UniCom for departmental telecommunications coordinators and IT Pros

• Individual adoption
• Departmental migration
  • IUB and IUPUI
  • Regional campuses
• UniCom modes

Individual adoption

Any student, faculty member, or staff member may download the software for the UniCom service after acknowledging the Emergency 911 statement (see ARCHIVED: Get started with UniCom/Skype for Business for details). This will enable the person's Microsoft Skype for Business account in Basic mode. Faculty or staff members need to contact telecommunications coordinators or IT Pros in order to change from UniCom Basic to UniCom Enterprise Voice; see below.

Telecommunications coordinators or IT Pros may then email Telecom and Network Services with the change request, or individuals may initiate the request using the UITS Telecommunications Request form. Those who want to make and receive phone calls with UniCom will need appropriate equipment; see About office telephone equipment at IU.

If you have questions, email Telecom and Network Services, or call 812-856-2287 (IUB) or 317-274-3004 (IUPUI); at other campuses, contact your campus IT department.

Departmental migration

The steps below describe the process for the enterprise-wide migration from legacy phone systems to UniCom (Skype for Business) across the university.

IUB and IUPUI

1. The Communications Planning and Implementation team determines what buildings/departments have highest priority for conversions to UniCom. Criteria for prioritization include buildings scheduled for rewire of the data network, as well as departments/groups that are moving locations. Other buildings, departments, or groups will be converted on a volunteer basis as time permits.
2. CPI will contact department IT Pros and telecommunications coordinators to set up times to demonstrate Skype for Business, answer questions about how it will replace the legacy phone system, and discuss considerations specific to their areas.
3. CPI schedules IT Pros and telecommunications coordinators for conversion to UniCom.
4. IT Pros and telecommunications coordinators use Skype for Business for several weeks and have the opportunity to ask CPI questions about scenarios in their specific support areas, as well as becoming more knowledgeable about the application and service.
5. IT Pros install Skype for Business on all building/department computers and request users to complete the 911 acknowledgment agreement to activate their accounts, as well as encouraging the use of presence and IM features.
6. CPI schedules another session with IT Pros and telecommunications coordinators to plan for department/building conversion to UniCom, including discussion about strategies for deploying devices and user training. Many times, this involves scheduling more sessions with each working group within departments/buildings to understand business processes and ensure successful transitions for the main answering points and other call-coverage scenarios.
7. CPI schedules conversions through an internal tele-management system that tracks inventory, human resources, and locations.
8. CPI schedules and performs any requested training for the building/department, before or after scheduled conversions.
9. UITS technicians or IT Pros install devices optimized for Skype for Business on the scheduled date.
10. CPI and/or IT Pros facilitate setup of equipment for the main answering points via on-site visits on the scheduled date.
11. After the conversion is complete, CPI and/or IT Pros answer remaining questions about configurations and call coverage setup, and resolve any issues that arise as a result of the conversion.

Regional campuses

UITS staff at IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, IU Southeast, and IUPUC will coordinate conversions to UniCom in conjunction with the Regional Telecommunications Manager.

UniCom modes