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Convergence of Communication Technologies and Strategies for Higher Ed

Convergence of Communication Technologies and Strategies for Higher Ed. Tim Callahan University of Michigan 4/24/2007. Overview. The current environment Rising problems to address, reasoning Emerging technical areas The potential The reality Conclusions. Convergence Today.

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Convergence of Communication Technologies and Strategies for Higher Ed

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  1. Convergence of Communication Technologies and Strategies for Higher Ed Tim Callahan University of Michigan 4/24/2007

  2. Overview • The current environment • Rising problems to address, reasoning • Emerging technical areas • The potential • The reality • Conclusions Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  3. Convergence Today • Today’s wireless networks are typically built for portable data access, but some mobility is becoming available • We see trends towards true mobility supporting real time applications Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  4. Which Convergence ? • Convergence is coming in many forms • On the infrastructure: WLAN-Cellular-WiMAX • Across networks: wired and wireless management • At the backend and across services: • Unified communications • VoIP-VoFi-PBX (likewise with video, etc.) • IMS, SIP • At the user: • Multi-mode devices (dual-mode phones) • Cognigtive radios Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  5. Reasons to change? • Consider your mission • For example: Provide communication tools and resources to foster research and education • with cost recovery in mind • opt-in (i.e., decentralized) participation • Consider level of reliability, risks, financial stakes, and who pays • Do “Very Good Things” (VGT) Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  6. Reasons to Change • Convergences may enable: • Reduced installation and operational costs • new, valued services • Reduction of redundant infrastructures • Same voice service on PBX, VoIP, VoFi, Cellular • Reduce total customer bills (good for the school/state) • Services across previous previous barriers Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  7. Reasons: Rising Problems • Fading use of traditional voice • Increased integration of communications into the classroom • New teaching and learning models • New tools- DyKnow, consumer technology • Capacity and coverage in wireless • Dense user areas • More devices per user: dual mode, media, game systems • Cellular on campus and inside Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  8. Reasons: Rising Problems • Why not just outsource? • What’s so special about higher ed? • The academic enterprise and response from providers • Successful partnerships? Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  9. Evolving Technologies • Today’s environment is not mature, but it is evolving • FMC, UMA, IMS, Vo-Fi, WiMAX, DAS • Some hype, some sales pitch, some reality • Fixed and mobile wireless, services • What do they mean - for you- • Time of creativity, opportunity, and development • They will make an impact during the lifetime of technologies implemented today Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  10. Important New Elements • Presence / location awareness • Network: Know where you are before initiating communications (may require a “phone home” component for the user • Physical: Geographical location and user profile (service acts different at different locations) • Caution: users have more than one device Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  11. Important New Elements • Ability to cross boundaries • Internal: WLAN to LAN infrastructures, across services • Internal-External: From the network you control to a network you don’t control • “what” crosses the boundaries? Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  12. The Potential • Do some Very Good Things: • If you could start fresh? • Can head towards a pervasive communications environment • Redefine communication models: number and address replacement with more intuitive models • The user is the center of his universe and that universe follows him everywhere • Think “security alert” Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  13. The Potential, Continued • Pervasive communications, continued… • Role based access • Think guest access, visiting scholars, 1st time users • “Cognitive Services” • Services react to conditions in the user profile • User profile defined by user, administrator, network conditions, location, etc… • Actions based on profiles of all parties involved (sender and receiver) Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  14. The Potential • Direct money and resources to one infrastructure supporting all services • Better efficiencies, better capacity and coverage (in theory, but new risks too) • Enable more versatile distribution of content, anytime anywhere learning • Handoffs possible across boundaries • Consistency of functionality across boundaries Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  15. The Reality • We can’t start from scratch • Efficient upgrades, integrations with existing systems • Pervasive, wall to wall network is different than a portable data network (buildout, requirements for services) • If it isn’t pervasive, then will the case for new services and architecture still be supported? Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  16. The Reality -Risks • We can’t start from scratch, cont’d • User adoption - why change? • F/S vs Students • Intuitive interfaces and the “lazy user” • Meet the fundamental needs first • The correct default profile and training • Pay now for future features? Fund that… • Users are throwing money at you now to… Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  17. The Reality - Risks • Technologies aren’t mature; higher risk; $ • Not all good technologies/companies survive • How important is your school (compared to the rest of the combined market)? How about all of Higher Ed combined? • Will we be allowed to use new features? • Think GPS on your cell phone • Sold / affordable for carriers only? Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  18. Conclusions • First, state the obvious • When possible, follow standards • SIP for communications • Bariblu app on dual mode, desk, cell handset • IP infrastructure • (now think cellular data integration, mobile broadband…) • Justify the changes over the lifetime of the investment • Know your user’s (evolving) requirements Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  19. Conclusions • Changes may only be beneficial by looking at an integrated architecture across services and infrastructures • Changes may require different funding models and strategies • Changes will be significantly more than an equipment upgrade • Can you deploy it and are you allowed to configure the desired features, will they work across boundaries? Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  20. Conclusions • It may be prudent to wait • Let the market evolve more • Wait for changes to solidify, such as 11.n • … or play a more active role in the evolution of the technologies • Can we (Higher Ed) take a team approach and voice our requirements for features, functionality, and service options? • Better response from carriers and vendors? • We don’t all have the same needs, but what do we have in common? What’s so special… Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  21. Thank You • Questions and Discussions? • Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor • tcallah@umich.edu Tim CallahanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

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