Skip to main content
University of Florida
NaviGator AI home page NaviGator AI

Line Services

What is UF's phone service?

The University's phone system is Digital ESSX service provided by ATT. UFIT Telecommunications negotiated and consummated the ESSX Service via a Special Service Agreement Contract with ATT. The ESSX system provides campus extension dialing, numerous line features, local service, access to the University's long distance services, and international long distance service. ATT maintains this customized, digital, and central office based service. ATT delivers this service to your office via ATT's copper and fiber optic cables and digital line carrier systems terminated in a Nortel DMS-100 switch. The University currently has approximately 15,000 ESSX lines. You can identify the University's Administrative ESSX Service by the following NXX numbers or "prefixes" and ranges:
 
273-0000 through 9999
294-0000 through 9999
392-0000 through 9999
846-0100 through 4999
846-6301 through 9999
 
Departments have five digit dialing or "extension dialing" between the different prefixes by dialing the last number in the prefix and then the last four digits of the UF number; for example, 352-846-6301 becomes 6-6301.

Centrex Line Service

Many departments use this feature rich ESSX Service directly by employing either single line phone instruments or proprietary "digital" multi-line capable phones. This type of phone system is called single line concept simply because each phone instrument is assigned its own ESSX line. The advantage of this kind of communications system is having a low initial installation cost, having the most line features and capabilities of an advanced system without having the initial expense (relative), ATT has the responsibility of keeping the system updated via software upgrades, and not having the inconvenience of housing and maintaining the switching equipment on the department's site.

General

Single Line Concept (SLC) is a telephone system offered by the University that uses the power and intelligence of the ATT's Nortel DMS-100 Central Office switch. The Nortel DMS-100 Central Office switch is the same digital technology that provides ESSX service to the entire Campus. The Single Line Concept customer does not need to purchase premise based common control or equipment that is placed in the communications room or closet in order to have telephone service. Typically, each telephone set or station is assigned its own telephone number (273/294/392/846). By using ESSX line features, the Single Line Concept system can provide functionally to meet most voice applications. SLC can be customized in many ways to meet the needs of the customer. Some operating examples are as follows:

  • All incoming calls are answered and screened by a central answering position(s). Staff desiring calls to be answered and forwarded to them, can advertise the main department's telephone number only.
  • All incoming calls go directly to staff. Staff desiring that their calls to go directly to them, advertise their individual ESSX line that is terminated on their phone. Staff not in their office can have their calls answered in their absence by using the line feature Call Forwarding No Answer or Busy and/or Memory Call Voice Mail, or use a phone with a built-in answering machine.
  • Staff located in different floors and buildings all over the Campus are provided with extension (station to station) dialing. This gives the feel that the department is all in one building.
  • Staff can be furnished with simple single line telephones (2500 sets) to multi-line Nortel Digital Meridian Business telephone sets. Depending on the desired functionally of each staff, there are many telephone sets to choose from. Central answering position(s) should have the functionally afforded by the digital multi-line Nortel Meridian sets. In addition, the central answering position(s) may need the ability to monitor station busy conditions that assist in call handing. Single Line Concept systems offer station busy consoles as well.
  • ATT has an Automated Attendant service based upon the Memory Call Octel platform. This Automated Attendant service provides basic functions and provides satisfactory results in many situations.
  • Single Line Concept systems can be unlimited in size. No matter how large a department may be, SLC will handle the number of telephone or stations required.

Key Systems

Many departments choose to purchase small communications systems with their additional system features. These departments require special features that the ESSX Service does not provide. Thus, electronic key or PBX systems are required. These systems have higher installation costs because the department purchases the hardware and software "up front." These systems are still interconnected with the ESSX Service for the purpose of provided extension dialing and access to SUNCOM and long distance services. These systems do have a limited service life as compared to the Single Line Concept system because the electronic key's and PABX's hardware and software will eventually fall short in providing adequate communications service for its owners in time. In some cases, these higher cost systems may save the departments in the medium term due to fewer ESSX lines terminated in the system if the departments' communications requirements allow the efficient use of fewer lines.

General

In certain cases, departments may require system features that are not provided by the single line concept. Even though Single Line Concept provides many line features, some UF users prefer a electronic key system with its available system features and multi-line/feature telephone. Electronic Key Systems have a higher installation cost as compared to single lines. This is because the customer must purchase the electronic computer based controller or key system unit (KSU) that typically resides in the communications closet/room. If voice mail is desired, it can be provided by ATT's Memory Call by installing a voice mail system as part of the key system. Upgrades to the electronic key systems are the responsibility of the owners of the equipment. UFIT Telecommunications maintains all telephone systems owned by the University. Electronic Key and PBX systems are no longer available for customers seeking new systems. Electronic key or PBX systems work best if the user prefers central answering in that all incoming calls are answered and processed by one or more positions. Automated Attendant can also be provided by electronic key systems to either back up the human answering positions or provide the main answering duties. Electronic key systems and PBX's are designed primarily for central answering. If one or more staff prefers to receive calls directly, additional ESSX lines can be installed for this purpose. The electronic key or PBX system can be programmed to switch any outside call using these "private lines" directly to the particular staff bypassing central answering. The department's overall call traffic allows the efficient sharing of ESSX lines. Fewer ESSX lines would be needed for the department. This situation reduces the monthly line costs for the department. Again, private lines can be provided, but they should be kept to a minimum. The department's existing and projected number of telephones number less than 120. Electronic key systems are limited in the number of telephone sets they can support. If the department's existing and projected number of stations number more than 120 and Single Line Concept will not do the job, Private Automated Branch Exchange (PABX) systems are available. PBX's initial costs are very high and only should be considered if there are no other alternatives. Both electronic key and PBX's have wireless technology that allows users to remain connected to their telephone systems even though they be on their feet in and about their building.