Voice & Videoconferencing

OIT's Systems Engineering and Communications Infrastructure manages and maintains the centralized telecommunications network, including Rice telephone and voicemail service.

The Nortel phone system is gradually being replaced across campus with a Cisco VoIP system. Voice-over-IP (VoIP) is the industry standard, and will continue to be for decades to come. Learn more on the Unified Communications project page.

Voice

Telecommunications Assistance and Service

Using Nortel Phones

Videoconferencing

Zoom

Campus Telecommunications Services, Fees, and Rates

Basic Features

Telephone service is offered on a monthly fee basis to Rice departments and include voicemail, call hold, call transfer, and four-digit dialing for campus calls. Rice supplies Nortel models M3903/M3904. 

Monthly Fees

• Line Charge (digital/analog/VoIP): $20.00
• Additional phone with duplicate line:   $10.00

Faculty/Staff: Long Distance Rates

• Domestic long distance within Texas (intrastate): $.05/minute
• Domestic long distance to other states (interstate): $.03/minute
• Rates for International Direct Dial from Campus (TBD)
• International Calling Card Rates (AT&T) from outside U.S. to inside U.S. (TBD)
• International Calling Card Rates (AT&T) from U.S. to International Mobile Phones (TBD)

Equipment

• Nortel telephones: priced upon request
• Single line phones (cordless, desk, wall): priced upon request
• Accessories (such as headsets): priced upon request

College Residents

• Residential Telecommunications Fee: $15 per semester
• Note: Domestic and International Long Distance included at no additional charge for College Residents

Telecommunications Assistance and Service

Contact OIT to set up telephone service, or to move or change your telephone service via email (helpdesk@rice.edu). The standard response time for repairs is 24 hours.   Adding, changing, or moving a telephone line usually requires 3-5 working days. 

Service Labor Rates

• Hourly labor rate: $37.50
• Overtime labor rate: $56.25
• Overtime hours: Monday - Friday after 5:00 pm or before 8:00 am, and also weekends and holidays

Using Nortel Phones

Calling Campus Phones

Campus numbers can be dialed directly from off campus by dialing: 713 + 348 + four-digit extension number. 

Directory Assistance

You can obtain help from Online Directory or simply dialing 0 from a campus phone or 713-348-0000 from an off campus phone and say the name of the person or department you wish to reach.  For operator assistance during business hours say "Operator." 

Dialing from Campus Phones

On Campus Calls

Dial the four digit extension number when you hear the dial tone.

Local Off Campus Calls

Dial 9 + Area Code + Phone Number

Toll Free Numbers

Dial 9 + 1 + Toll Free Number

Long Distance Calling

Dial 9 + 1 + Area Code + Phone Number

Department chairs or administrative officials designate which telephones in their departments have long distance capability. If the telephone extension has a class of service (COS) that permits long distance calls, you may dial "9" (for getting off-campus), then "1" (for long-distance), and then the area code and the number. If the telephone is limited to local calls only, you will hear a fast busy tone.

International Calling

Dial 9 + 011 + Country Code + City Code + Phone Number

For telephones that have a class of service that allows international calls.

Forced Authorization Code

Department chairs or administrative officials may request a Forced Authorization Code (FAC) for individuals. Each FAC corresponds to a specific university account for long distance charges. A FAC is used to do the following:

1. To make a long-distance call from a on-campus telephone normally limited to local calls only.
2. To make a long-distance call that is charged to the account associated with the FAC rather than the account normally charged for the extension.

Long distance using a FAC Code

1. Dial: Access Code "6556"
2. Dial: FAC Code (On back of card)
3. Dial 9 + 1 + Area Code + Number

International long distance using a FAC Code

1. Dial: Access Code "6556"
2. Dial: FAC Code (On back of card)
3. Dial:  9 + 011 + Country Code + City Code + Number

Conference Calls

When you have the first party on the line, look for the CONF button at the bottom of the screen.  When you press the CONF button the first conversation will be placed on hold and you will receive a dial tone.  Make the second call as you would normally do (i.e. press 9 to reach an outside line and 1 if it’s long distance and dial number).  When you have the second party on the line, press the CONNECT button at the bottom of the screen.  All three of lines should now be connected.  You can continue to add parties in this manner up to 6 parties including yourself.

Using Voicemail

For voicemail issues or voicemail password resets, contact the Telecommunications Office (see above).

First-time password

The first time you log on, you must change your password from the default password (78 plus your four-digit extension number) before you can listen to your messages. For quick reference, simply remember RU + extension.

Voice Mail Numbers

• Mailbox Number: Your four-digit extension number
• Default Password: 78 plus your four-digit extension number

Logging On Voicemail

See also: Knowledgebase article on Rice Voicemail

From your campus telephone:

• Press your extension key (get Dial Tone) or dial 2000
• Press: Message key plus #
• Dial: Password plus #

From another telephone:

• Dial: 713 348 2000
• Dial: Your mailbox (extension) number plus #
• Dial: Password plus #

Extra Features

Additional features can be added at an extra cost.

Unified Messaging

Unified messaging automatically sends a recording of a voicemail as a .wav file attached to an email. By condensing all voice and email messages into a single solution, Rice employees who utilize unified messaging no longer have to call in to check their messages. Contact the Telecommunication Office (see above) to request Unified Messaging: 

Costs

• One-time programming fee: $18.75
• One-time license fee: $72.25

• Access voicemail via your telephone, you will immediately hear the following announcement: "The administrator has set up your message forwarding rule. To enable your rule, press 85 and then option 1."
• Press 85, you will hear: "Message Forwarding rule service, the Administrator has set up your message forwarding rule, to enable your service, press 1."
• Press 1, you will hear: "Your message forwarding rule is enabled." Acceptance tone heard.
• Your voicemail messages will now automatically be forward as a .wav file into your email inbox. Voicemail messages will continue to be stored on your desk phone voicemail for 3 days, after that, they will be automatically be deleted. The voicemail messages forwarded to your email inbox will remain as long as you choose to keep them. It is recommended that you create a desktop folder to move these messages to in the event you choose to keep them long term. Otherwise you simply delete them as any other email.

Personal Call Assistant 

A feature that allows you to program another telephone number to ring simultaneously when a call is directed to your campus telephone. 

• One-time programming fee: $18.75
• One-time license fee: $20.25

Videoconferencing

Zoom

Zoom is a video and web conferencing tool that unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, and group messaging into one easy-to-use platform. 

Zoom offers video, audio, and wireless screen-sharing experience across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Blackberry devices with campus-affiliated and unaffiliated users. This tool can be used by Rice faculty to remotely connect with your class via a web conference.

More Information On using Zoom >