UW-IT provides phone service as a traditional desk phones or Teams Phone using Microsoft Teams. On this page, learn how you can get new phone service, change your existing service, get additional service options, or move existing phone service.  You can also get and set up your own customer-purchased telephone equipment.

• Order new phone service
• Request changes or add-ons for existing phone service
• Using your own equipment

Order new phone service

To order a new UW Phone service, submit a request using the Telecom Help Form.  Before filling in the form, please prepare the following information:

• UW NetID and display name of the service recipient
• The type of phone service you want: traditional desk phone or Teams Phone
• Location of the new service
• Worktags
• PCA details

Order phone service

Cell phone service

Discounted cellular plans available to the UW community can be found on The Whole U website. To see the available discounts navigate to the "Services" category under "Discounts".

More information about UW-purchased cell phones and plans can be found in "Cell Phones for UW Departments" section. 

Request changes or add-ons for existing phone service

Use the Telecom Help Form to request changes, ask questions, or report issues related to an existing UW Phone service.

Update phone service

Using your own equipment

UW-IT leases equipment for most digital UW Phone services, such as VoIP desk phones. Departments must purchase analog line equipment, such as single-line phones, cordless phones, and credit card machines. Departments are also responsible for purchasing optional peripheral devices, such as headsets and adapters. Equipment purchased by UW Phone customers must be:

• Reliable, and should suit departmental needs
• Compatible with existing UW-IT equipment and infrastructure that the department is using, or will use in the future
• In conformity with all university-wide UW-IT policies

If your department would like to purchase equipment but are unfamiliar with these requirements, please contact UW-IT to discuss these requirements. Please note that if UW-IT dispatches a technician for a repair request regarding a service connected to customer purchased equipment, and that no issues are found in UW-IT owned equipment or facilities, UW-IT may assess a technician visit fee for the request. UW-IT cannot repair issues in customer purchased equipment.

Purchasing Telephone Sets and Headsets

Requirements for Telephone Sets

Customer purchased single line, 2-line, and 4-line telephone sets should meet these requirements:

• Be FCC registered, modular plug equipped, and analog capable
• Have programming built-in set features (speed dial, intercom buttons, etc.)
• Have repair service available, including battery replacement
• For 2- and 4-line sets: must connect to RJ11C or RJ14C telephone jacks

Notes:

• Some UW Phone features such as Caller ID and Visual Message Waiting may not be compatible with all single line telephones.
• 2.4 GHz cordless telephones are not recommended because of possible interference with campus Wi-Fi.

Recommended Vendors for Telephone Sets

• 2-line sets: Cortelco
• 4-line sets: Cortelco

To purchase from Cortelco, call 206-701-3029 or 800-654-1006 and advise you are from the UW for a discounted rate.

Requirements for Headsets and Adapters

Customer purchased headsets and adapters should meet these requirements:

• Make and model of set using the accessory

Notes:

• Certain set types also require special line programming.

Recommended Vendors for Headsets

Vendor	Equipment	Note
Headset Innovations	Wireless and corded
Poly	Wireless and corded
CDW	Wireless and corded	Only available when purchasing with a UW funding source.
Business Telecom Products	Wireless, corded, and accessories	Contact 800-457-4287. Advise you are from the UW.
Headsets Direct	Corded