Lines Of Communication Link UpLines Of Communication Link Up

Verizon Communications last week unveiled iobi Enterprise, a software and services package that lets large businesses link their voice and messaging services with various office devices. Iobi integrates caller ID, voice mail, E-mail, and instant messaging with office phones, cell phones, computers, and other communications devices.

Fairleigh Dickinson University has tested iobi Enterprise for three months. With more than 11,000 students, more than 1,000 employees, and about 3,300 phone lines, the university needs control over multiple communications services and also must preserve its investment in the existing network infrastructure, says Neal Sturm, Fairleigh Dickinson's associate VP and CIO. "What's magic about iobi is that it's an application and service in one neatly bundled package that brings all communication together for us," he says.

Fairleigh Dickinson plans to deploy iobi Enterprise at its residence halls, making it easier for the university to contact students. Iobi also will make it easier for administrators who travel to have calls automatically forwarded from their office phones to their cell phones or other devices, Sturm says.

Iobi Enterprise is available to Verizon Centrex customers between Virginia and Maine, and is priced between $7 and $8 a month per user.