JANET Technology Advisory Services
Further information | Making an enquiry
JANET(UK) provides wide ranging advice and guidance services for the JANET community enabling access to expert knowledge in technology areas as diverse as videoconferencing and inter-site connectivity. All the advisory services feature an enquiry answering facility which is free of charge. The aim is to support the JANET community by promoting best use and maximum effectiveness of investment in the technologies.
The range of technology areas is constantly growing and at the present time the advisory services include:
Multi-site and inter-site connectivity - MCAS - addresses issues regarding the WAN and LAN links on the client side of the main JANET connection. Advice and guidance is available on the options open to customers for connecting or upgrading network links between campuses and to remote centres. The service can put enquirers in contact with expert advisors, suppliers and telcos and a range of technical information and case studies covering a wide variety of technologies and implementations is published.
Wireless Technology Advisory Service - WTAS - this service provides specialist advice and guidance on all aspects of IEEE 802.11-based wireless technologies to those responsible for deploying and managing wireless networks within JANET connected organisations. The service will maintain a watch on technological and best practice developments and working towards quality assurance mechanisms. Typical areas in which the service is able to provide independent technical support to institutions include: security techniques; surveying and monitoring; WLAN management; standards and technologies; user support models.
Video Technology Advisory Service - VTAS - provides advice and information to current and potential users of video technology within the JANET community. VTAS conducts detailed evaluations of video technology and videoconferencing products and aims to develop documentation of interest to both end users and technical/support staff. Access is provided to a team of specialist advisors and an on-site consultancy service is available for those sites requiring specific, detailed advice (a charge is made for this service). An equipment test and demonstration facility is also available.
Voice Advisory Service - VAS - wide ranging and vendor-independent advice on technologies and implementation is available from the JANET Voice Advisory Service (VAS) on all aspects of Voice over IP (VoIP) and IP Telephony. Typical areas in which the service is able to provide independent technical support to institutions are: interconnecting traditional PBX equipment over network links using IP; implementing IP telephony; utilising VoIP in the form of MSN, AOL, GoogleTalk, Skype etc.; connecting to an ISP PSTN gateway service. The e-mail/telephone advisory service is free of charge for JANET customers but for in-depth support a chargeable consultancy brokering service is also available. VAS will also support the JANET voice collaboration service.
All advisory services are JANET customer-focused, with requirements determined by canvassing opinion and through feedback from the community. Each service comprises a number of components that have been chosen to provide the optimum service, selected from the following:
- Free of charge advice and guidance for the planning and implementation stages of projects
- Best practice guides to ensure maximum effectiveness of IT investments
- Generic advice through publication of case studies and technology factsheets
- Dedicated web site areas packed with information and useful links
- Product evaluations
- Input into JANET(UK) training course and conference planning
- Facilitating access to chargeable consultancy services
Making an enquiry
Advice on a particular topic or project is provided for all advisory areas through the JANET Service Desk enquiry system. To open an enquiry simply e-mail (preferably with the advisory service name in the subject line) or telephone JANET Service Desk (JSD) with your question and state the advisory service you require. A ticket number will be provided for reference and a response from the service co-ordinator will be sent shortly after.
Calls for participation
One of the aims of JANET(UK) is to involve organisations in sharing their technology experiences.
We would like to hear from organisations that have a case study proposal or an idea for a technology document that would be of interest to other JANET customers.
For more information or to discuss an idea further, please contact JANET Service Desk.
For further information and guidance on case study content, please refer to case study guidelines. A small amount of funding is available for documents/case studies undertaken.