Voicemail Conversion from Communite to Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging

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Information Technology Services

Voicemail Conversion from Communite to Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging

Communite was deployed in 2009 at NAU as a replacement for an existing voicemail solution that had reached it’s end-of-life. Shortly before that time Microsoft entered the voice communications market and added voicemail capabilities to their Exchange product. A pilot was completed using the Microsoft product in 2009 and several users were converted to Exchange UM. Others have moved to the system on a request basis. ITS has gained experience with Microsoft Unified Messaging (UM) and it has proven to be a reliable product which adds new features, most notably the delivery of voicemail messages to your email. Voicemail will be most effective if everyone is on the same system, also reducing customer and system support.

ITS will convert voicemail users from Communite to Microsoft UM the summer of 2013.

The conversion will be done by department working with a coordinator, typically the person who requests telephone services. When the conversions takes place customers will receive an email with the telephone access number (928-523-0076) and 6 digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access the new voicemail system. Calls to their extension will be covered by the new voice mailbox from that point forward. Customers should access the system using the telephone Touchtone User Interface (TUI) as soon as possible to replace the system generated PIN, greeting and name with their own PIN, personal greeting and name. Voicemail features using the TUI in Exchange UM are similar to those in Communite. Alternatively voice messages can be listened to by accessing email messages using a computing device with speakers or a headset.

 

Messages left in the Communite voice mailbox prior to the conversion should be accessed and erased or saved if needed (see link below) as soon as possible following the conversion. The Communite access number will remain the same (928-523-6225) and the customer’s mailbox will not be deleted until it is confirmed all the old messages have been processed.

Announcements

NAU Voicemail Conversion Is Underway

ITS staff was converted from Communite to Microsoft UM in April 2013. The Facilities department was also converted in June 2013. Communications will be sent to department telephone coordinators prior to their conversion. This will confirm mapping of voicemail boxes to email accounts and establish the date and time of the department’s conversion.  

Who will be Affected?

All Faculty and Staff Using Communite

All faculty and staff using Communite voicemail for individual and shared mailboxes associated with the NAU telephone systems at the NAU mountain campus and statewide sites will be converted. Those already using Exchange UM for voicemail or Microsoft Lync for Telephony will not be affected.

Project Timeline

DateActivity
2013-07-01Conversion commences

Contact Information

ITS Solution Center 928-523-1511

Project Team

Project Director: Chris Michels; Functional Lead: Dave Russell; Technical Lead: Robert Lightner; Implementation Team: Bernice Frost, Leiann Morris

Project Links

Video on saving wav files from Communite voicemails to your computer:

Using Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging: