Our mission is to connect people to people and people to information via information technology. We consider providing production level services that are within that mission.
Yes: backbone and building networks, telephone services
No: e-mail, storage (update: except as deemed appropriate by ITCS)
Our business is driven by teaching, learning and research. When evaluating new services or enhanced development of existing services, we give higher priority to services that strategically enhance teaching, learning and research.
Yes: backbone and building networks, packet-based voice service
No: circuit-based telephone service
We do not provide service or infrastructure access to entities outside the University of Michigan except to the degree that doing so benefits the U-M mission.
Yes: Provide cellular carrier with access to a tower if it will benefit U-M building coverage.
No: Do not provide access to our fiber plant so outside companies may connect their buildings.
We give higher priority to providing the physical infrastructure for services where we have a geographic advantage.
Yes: 802.11 wireless
No: Cellular telephone service
We give higher priority to services where we will have an economy of scale.
Yes: Res Hall Ethernet
No: Family Housing DSL in a "one-off" model
We give higher priority to services that can be provided in a "business" model as opposed to a "residential" model.
Yes: Res Hall Ethernet (full coverage)
No: Family Housing DSL in a "one-off" model
We embrace new technologies in our effort to benefit the University. We provide new services when a business case warrants it.
New products in the industry are generally volatile and appropriate for niche and/or test markets. ITCom will assist units who decide to be early adopters.
E.g. circuit based video conferencing.
ITCom is conservative in its approach to broad product deployment. Mature products are more appropriate for University wide consideration and broader ITCom involvement.
Yes: VoIP (when we believe it has matured)
No: circuit based video conferencing (it never caught on)
