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In an effort to reduce the cost and complexity of
using and managing cell
phones, ITS Network Services, in cooperation with the Office of
Procurement and the Finance Division, has been exploring ways to
reduce
billing rates and simplify management responsibilities. Initially
this
effort has focused on our cell phone contract with Verizon (our
largest
cell phone provider) though efforts are planned to expand this focus
to
Nextel calling plans.
As a result of these efforts, Verizon has offered
Yale a new "flat rate"
calling plan that will standardize monthly cell phone charges at
$37.00
per month per phone (excluding extraordinary charges such as directory
assistance and non-Verizon roaming charges). This plan will allow
all
University Verizon cell phone users to share a common pool of available
minutes that is sized to comfortably accommodate our normal monthly
usage
(significant changes in calling activity could necessitate future
rate
adjustments) and will eliminate the need to change plans to optimize
calling costs based on variation in usage. Based upon historic billing
information, savings to the departments across all the plans at
Yale are
expected to total approximately $250,000 per year.
Planning related to this conversion has been completed
and the cutover to
the new plan is ready to go into effect with the April 2004 Verizon
billing cycle. Please contact your current Verizon cell phone users
and
ask them to follow the short procedure noted below to convert their
phone
to the new billing plan. Please note that billing will continue
under the
existing plans until this process is completed.
Conversion Process (Please follow these simple steps
as soon as possible.
If done before March 18, change will be reflected on the April 2004
Verizon billing cycle)
1) Enter *228 from your Verizon cell phone and depress
the SEND key.
2) Listen to the message and select Option #2 to
update your roaming
capabilities
3) Wait until you receive a confirmation message that
your phone has been
programmed successfully. These three steps will take approximately
one minute to complete.
To keep our overhead costs as low as possible, we
are also exploring the possibility of switching from the use of
START for cell phone requests(the current practice most business
offices follow) to the use of a customized Verizon website for adding
or changing cell phone plans (this would be similar to the way orders
are placed for Dell Computers and
Corporate Express office supplies). More information about this
possibility will be communicated as options emerge
Please direct any questions to Randy Wanciak (2-2016, randy.wanciak@yale.edu)
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