You can now use your campus phone number while working from off-campus locations.
Extremely Important: Do NOT use your softphone to make emergency calls to 911 unless you have no other choice. Use your home phone or cell phone should you need emergency services. Your campus phone number is associated with the college's physical address, and emergency personnel will not have information about your actual location.
What is a softphone?
A softphone is the software-based equivalent to your campus desk phone. It can send and receive calls on any computer that can run the Mitel/ShoreTel Connect software. Your softphone will use a data connection (like your home WiFi) to reach the campus phone system and allow you to dial outbound or receive calls inbound. To use it, you will need:
- A computer or laptop (college-issued, or personally-owned)
- The ShoreTel/Mitel Connect software (it’s probably already installed on your TCC-issued laptop. See below if you would to install it on your personally-owned computer)
- Speakers and a microphone, or an audio headset (Speakers and microphones are usually built-in to laptops. Computer/console gaming headsets are likely to work as well)
I have a college-issued laptop. What do I need to do to use the softphone?
This video covers how to use the softphone on a college-issued laptop (VPN users: Pay special attention to the instructions at the end of the video).
I have a personally-owned computer I would like to use as a softphone. What do I need to do?
To use the softphone on a personally-owned device, download the software here:
https://voipsvr.tacomacc.edu/ShoreWareResources/ClientInstall/Default.htm
**Note: There is a Windows and a Mac version of the software available. The demonstration in the following video goes over the installation on a Windows computer.
Here is a guide on how to use all of the features on the Softphone.