The University of Memphis has upgraded its communications network to use the latest in wireless technology from Avaya. Avaya's technology allows students and faculty untethered freedom to move about the 1,160-acre campus -- in classrooms, the library, or in dorms -- while using laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other devices to connect to the Internet or the university's intranet.
The implementation is part of the university's strategic plan to utilize leading-edge technology to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students, and to offer the highest quality teaching and research services.
"Students in the 21st century expect a 21st century education," said Dr. Shirley Raines, president of the University of Memphis. "Investing in innovative uses of information technology, such as wireless, is absolutely critical for the University of Memphis."
Doug Hurley, vice president for Information Technology and CIO at the university, added: "Wireless is a key technology advantage for the university because it overcomes the dual barriers of time and distance. Wireless enables just-in-time learning and encourages innovative interactions in ways never before possible," said Hurley.
As a leading U.S. metropolitan research university, the school is engaged with local and state government to provide high quality learning opportunities and to pursue the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Information technology is essential, university officials said, to successfully achieving these goals.
"As a leader in wireless networks, we looked to Avaya to help extend the boundaries of the classroom so that everyone can use PDAs and laptops and move outside of the traditional classroom and not be limited to four walls," said Mark Reavis, director of Network Services for the university.
The university, with more than 20,000 students, has deployed more than 1,100 Avaya Wireless access points-one of the largest university implementations of wireless in the mid south -- throughout the campus. Students and faculty are able to take advantage of the Avaya Wireless AP-3 Wireless LAN (local area network) solution. The solution's dual slotted architecture supports a combination of the newer standard of 802.11a and the previous standard of 802.11b, and 802.11g radio PC cards. The newer standard's larger frequency allocation allows students to have access to a broader range of data intensive applications such as downloading several large web files while bridging into a videoconference call. The Avaya Wireless solution also allows support personnel to use IP (Internet Protocol) soft phones, a computer that acts as a fully featured telephone, on the university's network using an IP address.
Reavis said that technology use at the school is growing rapidly. Officials needed to ensure students and faculty had enough bandwidth to do research and studies now and into the future. He said higher bandwidth applications are needed to support the broad variety of academic programs at the university -- ranging from architecture and fine arts to engineering and chemistry.
The university's degree programs, Reavis said, encourage students to use laptops so the freedom to move around in a lab or other locations and still have access to the intranet or Internet from anywhere is critical. Student demand for wireless is high as many purchase Wi-Fi compliant wireless cards in the student center. With the cards, they can access the university's library system, on-line courses, electronic course materials, and participate in video conferencing.
In addition to mobility for students, the university uses the Avaya Wireless LAN to link video cameras across campus to provide surveillance of public areas. This feature allows security officials to monitor activity no matter where they may be on campus, even from inside their cars.
The Avaya Wireless Solution saved the university money, while leaving campus facilities intact. The installation did not require altering of the university's historic buildings to install cable wiring and in turn provided easier access to various applications throughout the campus with a wide reach range for users. With Avaya's technology, each wireless access point can reach up to 300 ft. in one indoor zone.
Reavis, who is also chair of the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) committee for the State of Tennessee network (TNII), said when he looked at the market for wireless, Avaya won out over competitors because of its ability to offer robust security using the IEEE 802.1X standard along with the per- user, per-session encryption keys that protect the university's network resources. "They had a good migration and strategic plan for the product and how it could easily be upgraded."
University officials also liked Avaya's ability to provide a complete one-stop shopping solution. Avaya teamed with Magowan Communications, an Avaya BusinessPartner, to install the wireless units.
The university, which has been an Avaya customer since 1988, looked to Avaya again because of its outstanding track record of support and service to the university. The university currently has two Avaya DEFINITY(r) Communications Servers and a video conferencing bridge that is IP-enabled. Avaya also provided 7,000 voice ports for students and faculty throughout the campus and some 3,500 voice mailboxes, and Caller ID features for the phones in all the student dormitories.
"We've come to expect and depend upon a high level of support and service from Avaya," said Reavis "and we're not disappointed. I highly recommend Avaya's products and services."
The University of Memphis prides itself in being a technology leader. In addition to ubiquitous wireless services, students and faculty have access to state-of-the art computing facilities, including more than 1,200 PC and Macintosh workstations in labs across campus and 56 "smart" classrooms incorporating the latest in eLearning services. The university is one of a few institutions that offer a master's of science degree in electronic commerce, supply chain management, and an undergraduate honors program in globalization.
Earlier today, the university announced it will open on Nov. 19, the FedEx Institute of Technology, which has a mission to be the epicentre for technological innovation in the Mid-South. The institute is a joint collaboration between the university, FedEx, and other leading corporations that will conduct world class interdisciplinary research and focus on preparing students for employment in the rapidly changing world of the Internet and information technologies.
"Collaborating with the FedEx Institute at the University of Memphis provides the opportunity for Avaya to join other leading corporations to build a research-centered organization that can forever change the Mid-South community," said Jim Phillips, chairman and executive director of the FedEx Institute. "The FedEx Institute is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice and graduate students who understand the role of technology in business processes and strategy."
Avaya's Wireless LAN solutions support the institute, which features a cyber cafe and virtual reality chamber meeting/presentation space. Inside the institute will be 10 research centers focusing on an array of studies ranging from medical breakthroughs in cancer and alcoholism to cyber security. Avaya has a classroom named after the company in the institute in recognition of its support for the institute's technological studies.
The University of Memphis also is the designated I2 (Internet 2) giga-pop site for the state of Tennessee. As a designated site, the university sponsors connections to the I2 network to serve other research institutions, schools and hospitals across the state.
The goal of I2 is to construct and operate a research network with greater than 100 times the bandwidth typical of the current Internet and to develop new types of applications and infrastructure technologies. The speed offered by I2 allows high bandwidth applications such as high quality live and archival video and teleconferencing.
Avaya designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services.