Thomas Implements New Communications Server

January 22, 2008

Thomas College is one of the first colleges to complete an upgrade to the Microsoft Communications Server 2007 system with integrated LiveMeeting 2007. This system has been licensed to provide services to all students, faculty and staff. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to log into Office Communicator each day to show that they are online, in the same way that they log into Outlook each day to check e-mail. The new system gives Thomas:

· A single e-mail/IM address

· A secure, active-directory based IM system

· Integration with the three major IM providers: AOL, MSN, and Yahoo

· Presence information for all students, faculty and staff to facilitate communication

· The ability to integrate text/voice/video communications

· The ability to have group conferences (text, voice, or video)

· The ability to share PowerPoint presentations/whiteboards/desktops/etc.

· An online platform for synchronous online and blended class meetings

· The ability to record classes

· The ability to provide ad-hoc surveys

· Videoconferencing using low-cost camera/microphone devices

· Conversation archives in Outlook for future reference

· The ability to use clients on Windows, Windows Mobile, and OS X as well as web-clients while on-campus or off-campus

· Future integration with our telephone system