Are You Ready For The Big Switch Off? Specialised Digital Telephony from NYES Digital and Apollo
All of our services are always working hard to introduce new products and services to their offerings to ensure your school can benefit from the most effective, innovative support possible. NYES Digital are pleased to now offer a brand-new cloud telephony service through an exciting partnership with Apollo Comms who have developed a specialist Education VOIP offering. We’ll be sharing lots more information about Apollo Comms X Education Edition throughout the next few months and it is important that schools are looking into a cloud telephony solution before ‘The Big Switch Off’ in 2025. NYES Digital with the help of the solution offered by Apollo are here to support you through this change with the innovative system designed specifically for education.
What is ‘The Big Switch Off’?BT are moving all customers from the old analogue public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a fully digital network. They plan to have moved everyone over before Openreach stop the PSTN (and ISDN) service by 2027. By then, every phone line in the UK will be digital, routing calls over IP (Internet Protocol) rather than the traditional PSTN.The PTSN has been around for decades, and therefore isn’t the most efficient and doesn’t meet the demands of modern communication. Digital communications are much better and boast a lot more features and benefits including being able to make calls from an device, from anywhere, using the same number. Plus, everything is stored in the cloud including numbers and saved messages so again, you can access your data from anywhere. A digital system also offers cost savings once set up.
What is Digital Telephony?Digital telephony works by converting analogue voice signals into data packets, then transmitting them via the internet. Once a number has been dialled, a third-party VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service provider routes the call. This technology solution erases the need for traditional private exchange systems which are typically costly, and must be managed by the user.
Most cloud telephony services use VoIP. VoIP relates to how data is transferred and travels via packet-switched connections. This capability contrasts the traditional method that operated via the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
A VoIP phone system equips users with the capabilities of a traditional private exchange system, but with increased cost efficiency and reduced hardware requirements. This method can be enhanced with cloud hosting, and functions by converting voice into digital signals. This enables users to seamlessly make calls from their computer, mobile device, or desk phone, from any location.
Why Apollo?Apollo Comms X Education has been specifically developed with the needs of schools in mind, offering the benefits already mentioned including cost savings and a huge range device access options as well as unique features to meet the complex needs of education settings.
You are able to use Apollo on any device, even a personal mobile phone via the smartphone app – but don’t worry, this can be turned off to ensure your personal time isn’t disturbed. This is a great development to enable any member of staff to access your phone system, even if they are only with you short-term without the need to purchase a device. Apollo also boasts PC software, which acts as a companion to handsets, it features chat functions, storage of numbers, voicemails and automated messages and is an overall management system for the whole network for those with admin rights. Apollo will also futureproof your school, not only ahead of The Big Switch Off, but also as more and more schools join Multi Academy Trusts – the system allows you to change your caller ID which is proving useful for staff who may be required to work across several schools.
Apollo have also developed two features which we think make the system an especially valuable option for schools:
Mass Emergency AnnouncementsThe ability to press one button and open up instantly all the handset speakers (overridden to the highest volume also) for emergency announcements, such as intrusions, lock downs, or urgent safety information, the telephone system becomes essentially an emergency PA platform. The emergency announcement button can be setup on up to 3 handsets.
Emergency Services Call Live AlertIf any handset or user across the system makes an emergency services call, the moment it goes live to the emergency services, the system simultaneously calls a group of nominated users and informs them an emergency services call is live and to which extension. This then allows the nominated staff to head straight to that location to provide emergency support.
The Apollo Comms X Education Package includes the following, but we have lots more information we an provide for you upon enquiry:
Onsite In Person Installation & Dedicated Project Manager
VoIP Handset or DECT Cordless Handset Per User
1,000 Minutes UK Landline & Mobile Calls Per User Per Month
Call Bundle Shared Across School or Trust Users
Mobile App For All Users To Work Flexibly
Call Recording with 90 Days Rolling Retention
36 Month Term
Retain School Main Number, Number Porting Included
Customer Feedback
NYES Digital and Apollo have recently supported Childhaven Community Nursery School through the transition onto the Comms X Education VOIP system and have received wonderful feedback!
Donna Rose, Office Manager of the school wanted to share a little more about the experience during and post switchover:
“I started looking into a new digital phone system for our school as we were aware of the Big Switch Off approaching in 2025. Apollo Comms X Education and NYES Digital offered us cloud phone system designed to help colleagues work more flexibly, created for a flexible education environment. Using traditional phone handset, mobile or softphones.The solution appealed to us as it was already arranged through a framework so very easy, and within a few days of putting the request in NYES Digital arrived to do a survey. We know and trust NYES Digital and are reliable.To set up the system, NYES Digital undertake an audit before going live to ensure correct switches and cabling is available, alongside a bandwidth check on the broadband. They will also provide relevant quotes for additional infrastructure upfront if needed.The system is really working for us and any queries are dealt with immediately. We received a fabulous service from start to finish, nothing was too much trouble. All aspects of our working environment are considered, installation was quick and painless. It’s also lovely that that 10 trees will be planted due to our order. Would highly recommend.”
Find Out MoreNYES Digital and Apollo are here to help you get ahead of The Big Switch Off. The summer break poses the perfect time to have a new digital phone system installed, and as more and more analogue lines begin to be switched off we’d encourage you to take action as soon as you can to avoid lengthy waiting times as all education settings, businesses and all other telephony users seek to make the switch. Click the links below to find out more about Apollo Comms X Education, and watch the video which will help you understand The Big Switch Off and what it means for your setting. Below you will also find further information from Apollo, as well as a link to request your quote.
Get In TouchAs mentioned, if you’re interested in support from NYES Digital and Apollo in your school we’ll first conduct a survey to help you understand what will be needed in your school. Every package is build to suit each individual school and we’ll help you arrive at a solution which provides you with maximum efficiency and cost savings. Get in touch with NYES Digital now to place a survey enquiry on nyes.digital@northyorks.gov.uk or phone: 01609 536086.