Medical Research Institute goes for growth with new IP telephony system

The Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute (POWMRI) has selected a new IP communications system that will result in significant cost savings and offer a host of unified communications (UC) features for the rapidly expanding Institute.

Siemens’ OpenScape UC Server is a tailored communication solution designed to help organisations transition to IP technology. POWMRI has initially purchased 100 licences, expected to increase to approximately 500 in less than two years. The new system will run alongside the existing Siemens digital TDM system and will be implemented by Commander.

POWMRI is one of the largest specialty medical research institutes in Australia leading revolutionary research programs in neuroscience. It is currently embarking on a massive growth phase with plans of expanding to four times its current size over the next few years.

“Key drivers for us were flexibility for future growth and cost savings — we were literally running out of capacity with our old system, but were looking for a flexible system that would help position ourselves for growth,” said Andrew Cartwright, IT Manager.

After evaluating a number of vendors, Siemens Enterprise Communications and its national integration partner Commander were selected.

“Siemens in particular has a completely open standards design making it compatible with any other system. It can also extend and integrate more easily so you’re less locked into doing things one way.

“Choosing Siemens meant that we didn’t need to purchase completely new infrastructure. Now we have the flexibility to gradually phase it in with current staff, while automatically deploying IP phones for new staff.

The system will be used across the board, from reception and administration staff to research staff. “Once people realise all the UC features that are available we expect they’ll embrace it,” he said.

Cartwright said an exciting feature of the system would allow the institute’s researchers to monitor laboratory equipment performance in real time. “A real plus for the research team is that they will be able to use OpenStage handsets to monitor the performance of their special freezers and liquid nitrogen, which they use to store human tissue. If these machines malfunction, an alarm can immediately sound through the handset,” he explained.