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ShoreTel is going back to school…in a sense. Barry University, a private Catholic university in Florida, is using the AT&T (News - Alert) Dual-Mode Mobile Voice, which is based on ShoreTel Mobility, to extend its campus phone system.

The Dual-Mode Mobile Device (DMMV) is a fixed-mobile convergence solution, provided by ShoreTel (News - Alert) and AT&T. It connects devices to the university’s Wi-Fi network, enabling Wi-Fi calling that replaces per-minute cellular charges and works with the university’s current Avaya IP PBX (News - Alert) and Wi-Fi network.

With it, university staff can access a range of PBX features, such as conference calling and extension dialing from their smartphones.

Barry University’s IT staff tends to use personal devices for work when out of the office, which bogged down the budget with wireless costs. With this solution, IT staff members have a single contact number and can avoid additional charges, while still using their own mobile devices.

Students can call the extension and receive support, regardless of where the staff members are, for improved service anywhere.

"Educational institutions all share a need for advanced, reliable communications systems,” said ShoreTel’s chief marketing officer, Kevin Gavin (News - Alert). “Not only must students, staff, parents, and teachers regularly communicate to share critical news and updates, but they must often do so from mobile devices, remote locations, or extended campuses, as is the case with Barry University. We're happy to be part of Barry University's mission to provide students with 'highly personalized attention from dedicated professors.'"

ShoreTel and AT&T made a nice sale here, and Barry University is benefiting greatly from all that the DMMV can provide. Not only is it saving money, but its students and staff are also benefiting from the ease at which they can contact IT.

With 8,500 students and 2,100 faculty and staff members, that’s a lot of people seeing improved communication thanks to ShoreTel.