Why Zoom Phones or VOIP

Zoom Phone and Mitel serve different but complementary roles in a modern communications environment. Zoom Phone is a cloud-based voice solution that enables faculty and staff to make and receive calls using desk phones, computers, or mobile devices, offering flexibility, scalability, and seamless integration with collaboration tools like Zoom Meetings, which we already have in place. Mitel, by contrast, is a traditional telephony platform designed for fixed, on-premises use and is not particularly suited to hybrid environments. As part of this approach, dedicated copper lines will remain in place for elevators, fire alarms, public safety phones, and other essential services to ensure reliability and uninterrupted operation. 

Together, this hybrid model balances modernization with safety, resilience, and operational continuity across the organization.

Regarding Zoom Privacy & Security Concerns

Zoom Phone Customer Content Data is the data our users record or share during a phone call, including voice/video, transcripts, recordings, voicemail, videomail, and SMS/MMS. Where this data is stored can depend on several factors and may vary depending on our account, group, and user settings or call routing tool-specific settings. However, based on our conversations with ZOOM & its partners to date, all of our content would be stored in our US data centers. Data is controlled by customer storage settings, which is in the region where the account is provisioned (US)

Zoom Phone Encryption Basics

• Zoom phone to Zoom phone.
  • If both parties are using Zoom Phone (Zoom app or Zoom Phone hardware): Calls are encrypted end-to-end by Zoom while traversing Zoom’s network. This includes signaling and media encryption. So yes — strong encryption is in place.
• Zoom Phone to a Non-Zoom Phone (PSTN)
  • When you call a standard phone number (landline or mobile): The portion of the call that travels over Zoom’s cloud is encrypted between Zoom endpoints. But once the call is handed off to the public telephone network (PSTN) — like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile etc. — that segment is not encrypted. Traditional phone networks carry calls unencrypted. Zoom cannot control encryption once the call leaves its network.

Bottom line: Encryption exists while the call is on the Zoom platform. But as soon as it reaches a regular non-Zoom number, the segment is encrypted like a normal phone call.

If we have a power outage, are Zoom phones going to work?

Yes, since Zoom solutions are cloud-based, an outage at one or multiple campuses will not affect the service from working. The only things that would not work if you had an outage are the physical devices, such as the Mitel phones, but your users would still have their softphones working.

Currently, do the Mitel phones work during power outages?

Today, if there were a power outage, the desk Mitel phones, auto attendants, voicemail, etc. would NOT work. For locations with emergency phone lines, such as elevators, fire alarm systems, and other emergency communication devices, these services will remain on dedicated copper lines to ensure reliability and avoid service interruptions.

Didn’t the District just spend lots of money on replacing all the old phones to Mitel phones while we were out of the office during the pandemic?  It’s only been a few years. Why are we spending more money on tech if the phones still work?

The district has had the same Mitel phone system since 2016. During the pandemic, there was a phone handset replacement to the current desk phones. These phones will work on the Zoom solution and the plans are to have users continue to use those phones instead of replacing them. No money is being spent to replace those handsets. Our current handsets will work with Zoom telco/phone technology.