University of Kentucky To Deploy Emerging Technologies

LEXINGTON, KY. - ALLTEL (NYSE:AT) and the University of Kentucky announced an agreement to deploy next-generation voice services to enhance the communications process for students, faculty and staff while advancing the university's goal of becoming a top national research institution. New services include implementation of speech technologies.

 

The contract also covers local phone service, voice-mail, unified messaging, long-distance and high-speed data services.

Deployment of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology adds greater mobility for faculty and students, offering services not currently available over traditional telephone networks. For example, unified messaging allows users to check phone messages, faxes and emails either by phone or a personal computer. Speech-activated messaging will allow callers to respond to email over the phone.

Under the new five-year agreement, valued at $12.5 million, ALLTEL and the university will work together to expand the VoIP offering and explore how the technology can improve communications across the commonwealth.

"This deployment helps fulfill our vision to better serve students, faculty and staff through the use of new technologies," said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. "While we currently provide Internet telephony services to a small portion of our campus, this agreement is an opportunity to significantly expand the availability of enhanced voice and data services throughout the UK system."

ALLTEL also is working with the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education to establish the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Network (KPEN), a statewide communications transport network that will interconnect and provide Internet access to educational and governmental institutions across Kentucky.