Skip to main content
Visit Remote Work Tools & Guidelines and Student Remote IT Support for details on working remotely under the University's Coronavirus (COVID-19) recommendations
Penn Information Systems & Computing Systems Home

Search form

  • Find my LSP
  • Penn
System Status
  • Get Started
    • IT Staff
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Students
    • Alumni & Guests
    • ISC Staff
  • Services
    • — Services A to Z —
    • Accounts, Access & Security
      • Access Management Services
      • Active Directory
      • Identity Management Services
      • Information Security Services
    • Applications & Data Analytics
      • Application Development & Delivery
      • Data Analytics
        • Data Analytics at Penn
      • Integration Development & Delivery
    • Backup, Storage & Platforms
      • BackItUp
      • Backup for Desktop & Laptop
      • Cloud Solutions
      • Data Center Services
      • Database & Middleware Services
      • Endpoint Management
      • Recovery Services
      • Storage
      • Virtual Desktop
      • Virtual Server Hosting
    • Community, Support & Learning
      • Classroom Technology Services
      • Desktop Engineering
      • IT Community Events
      • Knowledge Link
      • LinkedIn Learning
      • Provider Support Services
      • Tech Center
    • Consulting & Professional Services
      • Brokered Products
      • HireIT
      • Systems Support & Consulting
      • Technology Forecasting
    • Email, Calendaring & Collaboration
      • Classlists
      • Penn Email Routing
      • Penn+Box
      • PennNet Mailing Lists
      • PennO365
      • PennZoom
      • SMTP-Relay
      • Secure Share
    • Networks & Connectivity
      • Firewall Services
      • Network Design & Installation
      • Network Names & Numbers
      • PennNet
        • MAGPI (Penn's Internet2 Regional Optical Network)
      • PennNet Ethernet Ports
      • Wireless at Penn
    • Phone, TV & Video
      • Broadcasting Studio
      • Contact Center
      • Live Video Streaming
      • Penn Video Network
      • PennFlex Phone
      • PennNet Phone
      • Traditional Telephony
      • Video Content Management
      • Video Production
        • Producing Video Content
    • Web Hosting
      • Web Services
    • — Service Rates —
    • — Service Level Agreements —
  • Security
    • Office of Information Security
    • Security Services
    • Special Projects
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Training & Awareness
  • Collaborations
    • Engaging Penn’s IT Community
    • Identity & Access Management
    • Cloud First
    • Next Generation Unified Communications
    • IT Advisory Groups
      • Common Solutions
      • IT Roundtable
      • Network Policy Committee
      • Penn Technology Investment Committee
        • About PTIC
    • Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
      • Audio-Visual (AV-SIG)
      • Cloud Computing (Cloud-SIG)
      • Data Visualization (DataViz-SIG)
      • Developer SIG (Dev-SIG)
      • High-Performance Computing (HPC-SIG)
      • Instructional Technology SIG
      • Linux SIG
      • Macintosh Networking Group (MacNet)
      • Mobile Technologies (Mobile-SIG)
      • O365 Special Interest Group
      • PC Networking Group (PC-Net)
      • Project Partners SIG
      • Security SIG
      • Social Media SIG
      • Splunk Special Interest Group
      • Super User Group (SUG)
      • Web SIG
    • Technology Services Strategy Review Board
  • News
  • Events
  • About
    • Overview
    • Leadership & Groups
    • Purpose & Values
    • Strategic Goals
    • Recognition
    • Tech Jobs @ Penn
    • Contact Us
  • Hot Topics
  • Get Help
    • Support Center
    • Contact ISC Client Care
    • Rates for All Services

You are here

Home » Next Generation Unified Communications
University of Pennsylvania skyline looking east with Fisher Fine Arts Library in foreground

Photo: University Communications

Next Generation Unified Communications

The Next Generation Unified Communications initiative set out to evaluate, select and implement a solution that would unify all or some of the Voice offerings that ISC manages for Penn today. Following an RFP and proof of concept process, ISC chose Vonage as its cloud communications provider with an initial contract of five years and the anticipated 30-month rollout will commence in early 2020.​  Vonage’s cloud-based unified communications solution will continue to provide you with the same quality of service you’ve come to expect from PennNet Phone, plus optional enhanced features and functionality including a mobile and desktop app with messaging and audio/video conferencing. 

Penn has re-branded the new service as PennFlex Phone.  For resources to aid you in the migration, please visit our service and migration resources page.

Benefits

  • Cloud Architecture – Choosing a cloud-native provider allows Penn to support more rapid adoption of modern features and integrations. 
  • Softphone/Soft Client– The new service will have softphone capabilities.  A softphone (soft client) is an application that enables voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone calls from your desktop computer or a mobile device over the IP network.
  • Modern features – Schools and Centers may choose to leverage new capabilities such as voicemail transcription, intercom, group paging, and hoteling.
Selection Process

 

 

Proof of Concept with Campus Partners Summary

41 volunteers participated in the Proof of Concept (PoC) representing APPC, Business Services, Dental, DRIA, College Houses and Academic Services, Nursing, Penn Purchasing, Provost, SAS, SEAS, Undergrad Admissions, VPUL and Wharton.  In coordination with the Van Pelt Library IT Staff, we established a mock office space to showcase more advanced features and functionality.

These were the goals:

  • Validate that the proposed vendor(s) service features and functions match or outperform existing PennNet Phone capabilities.  Record test results.
  • Validate User Stories.  Record and analyze criteria for success in Schools and Centers. 
  • Discovery. Engage with vendor(s) to discuss migration process and training options

For those of you that volunteered, we thank you! 

Project Team



Project Timeline

NOTE:  Due to COVID-19, several milestones are at risk.  However, the overall timeline is not at risk. 

 

Share:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Print
Questions & Feedback

Email: nextgenuc@lists.upenn.edu

 

Resources
  • Vonage to Power Penn’s Campus Communications - Almanac Article
  • NextGen UC Status Reports and Presentations
  • NextGen UC Proof of Concept Page
  • PennNet Phone service
  • Contact Center service
  • Traditional Telephony service
  • ISC Cloud First Program
  • Technology Services Strategy Review Board
  • Computing Policies
  • Tech Jobs @ Penn
System Status

© 2021 THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA — 3401 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 — Report accessibility issues and get help — For ISC Staff