Luther College implements a UC system

Luther College is a private senior school in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs which prides itself on providing high-quality education to more than 1000 students. The college places great emphasis on connectivity and communications. So when the administration decided to build an upgraded Middle School, a new ‘smart’ telephony system was central to requirements.

Christopher Topp, Luther College’s Director of IT, project managed the migration from an existing analog system to a Samsung OfficeServ 7400 system supporting Microsoft Office Communications Server and Exchange 2007 software. And the results are top of the class!

“We enjoy a long history with Samsung and also have a strong relationship with Microsoft and were an early adopter of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator. So any new PBX had to integrate with and support the Microsoft software, moving the college well and truly into the Microsoft world,” said Topp.

“The Samsung Microsoft Compatible Remote Call Control Gateway Product was used as an intermediary between the OfficeServ 7400 and the Microsoft software and, I’m glad to say, it has well and truly delivered,” he adds. “Our goal was to provide staff with communications features such as instant messaging (IM) and presence information, and to offer these features from both workstations and remote internet clients. Through presence, staff can easily identify colleagues who are available for immediate contact, along with the best or preferred way. They can also use IM for quick communication without having to pick up a telephone or wait for an email response.”

The OfficeServ 7400 provided each person with their own telephone extension, whether it was an IP-based softphone, deskphone, digital phone or analog phone, or even IP-based wireless phones. The status of the extension, (busy, ringing, forward status, etc) is passed by the Call Control gateway to the Microsoft Communications server and displayed on the user’s desktop in the OS Communicator client application.

Topp describes the Samsung solution as “rock solid”. He cites Samsung hardware, their local presence (“we never felt alone”) and their approach as reasons why he would be happy to work with Samsung when the existing system requires upgrades or extra functionality.

“They are a fast-moving, dynamic company that is certainly staying relevant with their offerings. They have provided the integration we need with the latest available technologies and, there is no doubt in my mind, they will have a comprehensive offering upon which we can expand in the future.”