Unified communications

The Unified Communications project aims to utilize Wayne State’s existing enterprise Microsoft Teams environment to replace telecommunications contracts and hardware. By expanding services and using the Calls feature in Teams, Wayne State can provide a modern and flexible work environment for faculty and staff while continuing excellent support and minimizing costs. 

Accessible and printer friendly graphic

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration application included in Wayne State's campus-wide Microsoft 365 license. It includes the Calls feature, which can be used to make and receive both voice and video calls, and can be integrated with a phone number for external calls.

• Work seamlessly across all computers and mobile devices when logged in to your Teams account 
• Make and receive voice and video calls with other Wayne State users 
• Make and receive external phone calls with a Wayne State telephone number 
• Voicemail transcripts 
• Custom quiet hours and/or days 
• Status options to automatically route calls to voicemail and avoid interruptions when presenting or busy 
• Spam identification 

How to make and receive calls in Microsoft Teams

Getting started with Microsoft Teams

Additional resources

• Download the Teams mobile app for iOS and Android 
• How do I check my voicemail in Teams? 

Project overview

Goals

1. Efficiency: Expand the use of existing technology and industry partnerships to support internal communications. 
2. Modernization: Provide a toolset that supports flexible work environments. 
3. Cost savings: Eliminate redundant hardware of physical phones where possible and reduce rates while maintaining excellent service. 
4. Emergency preparedness: Maintain compliance with E911 regulations that require location information for first responder use.

Impacted services

The following telecommunications services are included in this project. Emergency phones like blue lights and elevator handsets, as well as fax machine telephone lines, will not be impacted at this time. 

• Single-user employee phone lines 
• Departmental lines 
• Calls centers 
• Reception, common area phones, and building facilities phones 
• Conference room phones 

Locations

• Main campus 
• School of Medicine campus including Detroit Medical Center buildings 
• Mike Ilitch School of Business 
• Extension centers 

Timeline

Telephone lines will be migrated from phones to Teams by building and in phases. Each phase is scheduled based on service account data, and telephone lines will be migrated using the building listed in its account with C&IT. Email notification will be sent to impacted employees before each phase.

In the rare occasion that a physical phone has been moved to another building and the service account has not been updated to reflect that change, the line will be migrated with the building listed in the service account, not the building it is currently located in. Migration includes updating this service account information, including user AccessID, name, and physical location, when appropriate.

Phone lines in the Computing Services Center were previously migrated as a part of testing in preparation for this project.

E911 emergency calls

Enhanced 911 or E911 is the automatic transmission of pre-programmed addresses during an emergency call to help route calls to authorities and share a caller’s physical location with first responders. These enhanced services help provide emergency logistical support even when a caller cannot speak. 

• For emergency services on or around campus, call the Wayne State Police and Campus Safety emergency line at 313-577-2222. 
• Police and Campus Safety are automatically notified of any 911 calls made on Wayne State telephone lines. Callers will be asked to share accurate location information upon first contact with authorities. 
• Faculty and staff working remotely should use their personal cell phone or home phone when placing an emergency call to ensure correct location information is routed to authorities. 

Communications  

• Teams phone maintenance July 31, Unified Communications update 
• Unified Communications Project integrates phones with Microsoft Teams 
• Action needed for your Wayne State telephone lines