Department of Land Information
Government of Western Australia
Corporate Communications Branch
GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Media Statement
1 Midland Square, Midland, Western Australia 6056
Tel: (08) 9273 7472 Fax: (08) 9273 7690
Email:
20 December 2004
Attention: news editor/IT writers
DLI first to dial up VoIP technology for phone system
The Department of Land Information has become the first State Government agency in WA to adopt innovative Voice over Internet Protocol technology (VoIP) to deliver phone services across an entire department.
DLI this week signed a $924,000 contract with network services provider Logicalis Limited to introduce the new software-based phone system progressively from March next year. Logicalis is a national provider of network services including IP (internet protocol) telephony and Voice over IP solutions.
The contract was signed this week by DLI’s Chief Executive Grahame Searle and the WA manager of IBM, Bill Stewart. IBM Australia acquired Logicalis earlier this year.
The new VoIP handsets will make digital phone calls over the Department of Land Information’s IP network rather than the old analogue telephone lines. The Department has locations in Midland, Perth, Floreat, Bunbury and Albany and the introduction of VoIP will allow all locations to be linked to a single telephone system.
The innovative system will employ Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) which will allow DLI staff to share information with their desktop computer.
In effect, the IP phones will be able to access software applications such as Microsoft’s Outlook appointments software.
In this case, if a caller rings someone who is not at their desk, the IP phone can ‘read’ the appointments recorded in Outlook, and tell the caller when the scheduled appointment is due to end.
“This system has been designed to make things easier and more efficient for callers to DLI and our customers,” Mr Searle said.
The new phone system is not one that requires people to listen to several recorded messages and key in different responses along the way, causing frustration and tempers to fray.
“Instead, we’ve gone for a system which integrates our phone and computers systems, and gets callers through to the person they want, and if they’re not available it gives callers the choice of leaving a message,” he said.
From April, DLI will start replacing its 1000 or so telephone handsets around the State with new software-based IP handsets that feature a small display screen similar to a mobile phone.
The new system will include Cisco Call Manager, the handsets, and the Performance Solutions Limited Vision suite of software, which provides the contact centre and computer telephony integration components.
DLI is the first agency to adopt IP telephony technology for an entire government department.
DLI is also working with the Office of e-Government to assist with the development of a migration strategy for other agencies that might adopt the technology in the future.
DLI provides land and property information, and administers WA’s land information system and provides valuation services.
The Department is in the process of making the transition to a statutory authority with commercial powers.
Mr Searle said the new phone system will further consolidate DLI’s reputation for embracing leading edge technology to deliver its products and services, such as the Landgate portal launched last year (). The website delivers land information to the private and public sector and was one of Australia’s first land and property information portals.
Ends
Media contact:
Jodi Cant, DLI Corporate Communications, ph: (08) 9273 7472
GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA