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Base transitions phones to Internet service, will save money but up-front costs borne by units

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  • By Nicole Turner
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A new wave of the future telephone is Voice Over Internet Protocol and Tinker will gradually install this system across the base.

VOIP is a telephone system that connects using the local area network. Though it's new to a lot of people, it is a system that has been around for a while, and the Air Force has recommended that all bases switch to this new technology.

The installment cost is roughly $500 per phone; however, by installing the phones personnel in the 72nd Air Base Wing Communications Directorate will manage all phone lines in addition to computers.

"All of the existing infrastructure that we have on base will be used to talk on your phones," said Rob Ludwig, network technician and VOIP system administrator in the 72nd ABW/SC.

Prior to these phones, Tinker's telephone system has been managed by a contractor, which ultimately has cost the base more funding.

"The initial installation cost seems high, but it will save money in the long run," Mr. Ludwig said. "The idea is to replace all of the phones on base to use Voice Over IP. Now you only have one line to maintain and the power to the phone is provided by that line."

Currently there are roughly 500 VOIP phones installed across the base. When buildings are remodeled or redesigned or new ones are built, they are set up with VOIP.

However, with more than 20,000 phones on base, the process will take at about five to six years to finish the complete transition.

"In August the new medical clinic is going VOIP and they are going to have 800 phones installed," Mr. Ludwig said. "Because everybody needs their computers for e-mail, we make them use VOIP. There's no reason to run two separate lines."

The offices and entities that currently have VOIP are providing the funding for it as a customer; however, as the base continues to install these phones in the next few years, plans are in the works for them to possibly be funded through headquarters, Mr. Ludwig said.

The VOIP has an appearance of a regular multi-line telephone, but with the transition many new options and features are available that the current telephones do not have.

Not only does it share the same network as office computers, it also has a digital call log, which shows a caller ID list of any and all numbers that have called the phone.

"I like it because of the call log," said Tammy Dillard, personal wireless communications service manager in the 72nd ABW/SC. "You can just look and see the number that called you and you can just call it back."

Because the VOIP phone lines connect with computer lines, a phone line can be dropped in any area or office that has a computer, unlike regular phone lines that require a specific phone switch to be installed first.

"If you have a network line, it is possible for us to put a phone on it," Mr. Ludwig said.

The VOIP system also allows for specific numbers to be used on any other VOIP phone.

This means that an employee's specific phone number does not have to be assigned to one phone; it can be transferred to other phones with the VOIP system as well, which makes situations like moving offices and phone installation more convenient.

"I can program at least six different numbers on one VOIP phone, and do it all without ever leaving my desk," Mr. Ludwig said.

One of the major ideas of the VOIP phone system is to possibly assign a number to employees as they are hired, and those employees will never have to change their phone number, even if they move offices.

"It is the future of phones on this base. There's so much you can do with it. You see what you can do with your computer now, having your phone and your computer combined is just a benefit," Mr. Ludwig said.