Zoom Phone Transition Updates

Posted on May 28, 2025
Zoom logo on a smartphone with a laptop in the background

Welcome to the Zoom Phone Transition Community Update Page! This is where the UIC community will find bi-weekly news and updates about our progress to transition UIC to use Zoom Phone.

About the project: The university’s telephone service is being upgraded and transitioned to Zoom Phone, a cloud-based voice platform that combines traditional telephone service with the Zoom platform used for meetings. This change does not impact the phone service currently provided in UIHealth.

Week of May 26th

Zoom Phone Transition – Early Phone Number Release Opportunity

  • The university is transitioning to Zoom Phone, combining traditional phone service with the Zoom platform.
  • Delays in the project are mainly due to porting thousands of phone lines from the current provider.
  • To help speed up progress and manage costs, you can voluntarily release your university phone number before the telecom contract renews on July 15, 2025.
  • Open only to individuals with university-assigned phone numbers (excludes the University of Illinois Hospital and regional campuses).

You should consider this if:

You no longer need a university-issued phone line.

  • This may be due to work location or use of a personal cell phone.
  • Your current line will be disconnected on or near July 1, 2025.
  • If a need for a university-issued phone line arises in the future, a new request can be submitted and a new number will be provisioned in Zoom Phone.

You require a university-issued phone line but can move to a new number immediately.

  • We have a limited number of new lines available at this time but can move some individuals to Zoom phone immediately with a different number.
  • Your current line will be disconnected on or near July 1, 2025.

You require a university-issued phone line but can move to a new number AND are willing to go without a phone until lines are available.

  • Your current line will be disconnected on or near July 1, 2025.
  • You’ll receive a Zoom Phone line when additional lines are ready (timeline to be determined).

What To Do:

  • If one of the above options fits your situation, and you’re not part of the University of Illinois Hospital or a regional campus, please visit:
    🔗 it.uic.edu/early-phone-transition and submit by June 16th. 

Week of May 5th

  • We are currently completing a port of approximately 4,000 phone lines, which is expected to finish this week. This milestone will enable us to move forward with the migration of several additional campus units in the near future.
  • In parallel, the Planning, Sustainability, and Project Management group is scheduled to transition to Zoom Phone this weekend.
  • We also continue to fulfill all new phone service requests using Zoom Phone.

Week of April 28th

  • There are no Zoom Transition updates to report this week.

Week of April 14th

  • As of of April 1, 2025, all new individual phone line requests are being fulfilled using Zoom Phone.
  • Existing phone numbers are being transitioned to Zoom Phone on a unit-by-unit basis. Impacted individuals will receive email communication as the scheduled migration date for their unit approaches. Technology Solutions will continue to send updates and detailed communications once the transition begins.
  • We will also be working closely with colleges and units to identify any specific needs or requirements that may arise during the transition.
  • We appreciate your support as we modernize our campus communication service offerings. Please see the Official Announcement for more details.

Week of March 31st

  • As of April 1, 2025, Zoom Softphones will be issued to fulfill any, and all new phone requests.
  • Technology Solutions outlined a recycling process for used hardware.

Week of March 18th

  • Technology Solutions has completed another port, transitioning 650 numbers to Zoom Phone in the last week.
  • Total numbers ported off previous service provider (AT&T) is 800+.
  • Team is preparing for the deployment of new Zoom Phones.

Week of February 24th

  • The Zoom Phone Transition Team has initiated several follow-ups with the current service provider, who has not yet provided an update on progress.
  • Technology Solutions has started installing ports that will enable future installation and distribution of Zoom phones.
  • Technology Solutions is finalizing the process for recycling, redistributing, or donating hardware and telephones.

Week of February 10th

  • The Zoom Phone Transition Updates page is launched.
  • The Zoom Phone Transition Team is working with a pilot group of early adopter technical users to test Zoom Phone functionality.
  • The Zoom Phone Transition Team is gathering feedback on service usage, training, and related materials, and addressing that feedback.
Modified on May 28, 2025