Requesting Service

The Office of Telecommunications is responsible for the installation of voice and data infrastructure on all Temple campuses. Through the customer service orders and coordination and scheduling of field engineers, the Telecommunications analysts handle your voice and data requests from inception to completion.

Telecommunications analysts handle requests for the following:

• Installing, removing, and moving telephone lines and ethernet cabling

• Single line and multi-line telephone sets

• Software programming

• Training sessions to maximize use of telephone features and equipment

• Speakerphones

• Video teleconferencing

If your department needs any of the above services, please complete a "Customer Service Order Request" form (Excel or PDF). Please note that incomplete service orders will be returned to your department and delay the completion of your request.

Please plan for a 15 day working period for your order to be completed. We make every effort to complete customer service orders as soon as possible, but given the heavy workload processed by the Office of Telecommunications, 15 days is a normal turn-around time.

Once completed, please send your request via inter-office mail or fax to:

Telecommunications Services
The TECH Center, 3rd floor (286-99)
12th St. & Montgomery Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Fax: 1-7811

If you have any questions or problems completing the Customer Service Order Request form, contact the Office of Telecommunications at 1-8655. If you have a repair need, you can call 4-HELP.

Single line and multi-line telephone sets

There are two basic types of telephones available to users--single line sets and multi-line sets. Only one telephone extension rings on a single line set, whereas multiple extensions can ring on a multi-line set. In addition, multi-line sets can have either twelve or thirty buttons and are available with speaker and display capabilities. Note that Installation and monthly costs vary depending on the telephone set.

Telephone user guides are available for single line and multi-line sets.

The software features listed below are standard on single line and multi-line sets. Please note that multi-line sets require a dedicated button.

• Call hold enables you to place a caller on hold.

• Call transfer enables you to transfer the caller to another extension.

• Conference enables you to place a conference call with up to three parties. Note that at least one system user must remain in the conference.

• Last number redial is a short-cut that enables quick redialing of the last external telephone number that you dialed dialed.

• Call back allows you to leave a callback message on a busy or unanswered internal line. When the busy line becomes idle or the unanswered line is activated, the system will automatically call back.

• Abbreviated dialing allows you to keep a personal directory of ten frequently called internal or external numbers per line. A one-digit reference code (0-9) identifies each number.

• Call park allows you to park a call at a specified parking number for retrieval from any system extension.

Software programming

Additional software features that are available upon request include the following:

• Call waiting alerts you to incoming calls offers the ability to answer these calls while you are on the line.

• Class of service designations define the dialing access for an extension. Classes of service include the following: campus only, Philadelphia only, Philadelphia and suburbs (215, 609, 610, and 267 and 856 area codes), continental United States, and International.

• Call forwarding allows you to forward calls from your extension to a predetermined location. Call forwarding can occur when callers receive a busy signal and/or no answer or upon the manual set-up by users.

• Call pick-up groups are created groupings that enable a member extension to be answered by dialing #7 on any member telephone.

• Intercom groups are only available on multi-line sets and serve as a dedicated line for inter-office communication.

Speakerphones

Speakerphones can be rented for $50 through Telecommunications Services by completing a Customer Service Order Request form (Excel or PDF). Place the request under "Details of User Request."

Video teleconferencing

The University has video teleconferencing rooms that can be used for Distance Education, meetings, and guest lectures between Temple campuses or off-campus locations. Video teleconferencing rooms are at the following locations:

• Main Campus
    --Ritter Annex, Room 324

• Ambler Campus
    --Widener Hall, Room 210

• Harrisburg Campus at Strawberry Square(2 rooms)

Each of the rooms is equipped with a PictureTel Concord dual monitor video conferencing system that can handle a video call up to 384kbps over ISDN. Each room also has an Internet connection that can be used in conjunction with the video presentation, as well as a VCR, document camera, and slide to video unit. The seating occupancy at each room location is 25 people. Please note that a technician will operate the equipment during classes, meetings, and presentations.

Click here for rate information. For budgeting purposes, a 130 minute call to Harrisburg, connecting at 384kbps, will cost $187.00; a 30 minute call to Columbus, Ohio, connecting at 384kbps, will cost $65.00.

If you are interested in scheduling a class or meeting using the video teleconferencing equipment, please contact Claire McNicholas at 1-3377 or clairem@temple.edu.

Additional information about the services that Telecommunications provides is available on the Frequently Asked Questions Web site.