Brunel is first with wireless network

Brunel is claiming to be the first UK university to converge all its telephone and computer connections into a single network that will use the internet to communicate.

The system - worth about £1 million to installer Cisco - provides a wireless network for computers and telephones, allowing staff to access their telephone and take their laptops anywhere on the campus.

It integrates voice, data and video systems and users can pick up voice and electronic mail from a single handset.

The cost benefits will come from reduced support costs.

Simon Furber, Brunel's network manager, said: "This is a significant investment for the university. But we think given the amount of restructuring going on at the moment, the payback is acceptable. We aren't going to need to pay four people to change things."

The 2,500-telephone system is expected to be installed by January.