Full Story

PRESS RELEASE

Elon University Signs Agreement with Sprint for IP Communications Solution Featuring Cisco Unity Unified Messaging

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and ELON, N.C. - July 15, 2002 - Elon University is taking advantage of new technology from Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS) and Cisco Systems to make major enhancements to its campus communications network. Elon has signed an agreement with Sprint, using infrastructure supplied by Cisco, for an Internet Protocol (IP) communications solution, which will place Cisco Unity, an advanced unified messaging solution, at the heart of the university's new communications infrastructure. Together, the two applications will allow Elon to run its phone network over existing fiber optic cables, offer unified messaging and provide a new voice mail system.

"This agreement comes at an important time in our continued growth," said Chris Fulkerson, director of instructional & campus technologies at Elon. "We felt that the timing was right to move to the next generation of telephone and messaging services. Our plan is to be a leader in using converged technologies by taking advantage of the enhancements offered by Sprint and Cisco."

Elon University will immediately begin deploying Cisco's IP Communications solution, which is based on the company's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID), in all newly constructed buildings, with plans to implement the solution campus-wide. Moving to a converged business data network will allow Elon to operate more efficiently than can be done with separate voice and data networks and it provides a solid foundation for future network-based applications and capabilities.

"Sprint has served as Elon University's communications consultant and partner for the past 10 years and we are honored that it has decided to continue this relationship," said Steve Parrott, Sprint state executive for North Carolina. "By implementing this technology, Elon University is making a strong statement that it is committed to providing a rich learning environment using advanced communications technology."

Through Sprint and Cisco, Elon will implement the Cisco Unity unified messaging solution, which will allow faculty and staff various ways to obtain messages through multiple channels. Cisco Unity provides a single point of access to voice, fax and e-mail messages from virtually any communications device, including a telephone, personal computer or Web browser through the Internet.

"Elon University is actually the third university this year to benefit from our alliance agreement with Cisco," said Jaime Jones, vice president of sales for Sprint's Local Telecommunications Division (LTD). "The technological advances the students and faculty will receive is a direct result of our two companies working together to develop innovative processes and solutions for our customers."

Sprint and Cisco announced in December 2001 the expansion of their relationship through a three-year strategic relationship. The agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between these telecommunications and networking industry leaders to forge strong sales, joint marketing and technology development ties well into the future. Sprint and Cisco have teamed up in sales and marketing efforts to deliver a wide range of equipment and services to customers. Initially, the companies are focusing on jointly selling IP-based and broadband services, including dedicated IP, IP VPN and IP Communications. Additionally, the companies recently collaborated on the Sprint Enterprise Content Delivery Network^SM, a new network solution for business that will enable rich distance learning and communication over a Wide Area Network.

About Sprint

Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 80,000 employees worldwide and more than $26 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state of the art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network. Sprint's award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone is being extended to key global markets to provide customers with a broad portfolio of scalable IP products. Sprint's high-capacity, high-speed network gives customers fast, dependable, nonstop access to the vast majority of the world's Internet content. Sprint also operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas, including more than 4,000 cities and communities.

About Elon University

Elon University is a dynamic private, co-educational, comprehensive institution located in North Carolina's Piedmont region, midway between Greensboro and the Research Triangle. Elon, which recently completed the transition from college to university status, is ranked among the top 10 Southern regional universities by U.S. News & World Report. Elon's 4,300 students, who come from 46 states and 30 nations, enjoy the opportunities of a university in a strong community atmosphere. About 78 percent of students do internships, 82 percent participate in volunteer service, undergraduate research is flourishing and Elon ranks first in the nation among master's-granting institutions for the proportion of its students studying abroad. Graduate programs are offered in business administration, education and physical therapy.

Web Content Display

The Network is offering Google Translate in an effort to more easily share our content with a global audience. As these are free, machine translations, we cannot verify that all translations are accurate.