Phone Services

Service Setup | New Subscriptions | Existing Subscriptions | Other Info | Voicemail, Long Distance & Collect Calls

The University of South Carolina provides complete on-campus and local calling to students by request only. As of the Fall 2007 semester, landline phone access in the USC residence halls (Columbia-campus) will be available only by request and at an additional charge. Recent research conducted by University Housing found that most students were using mobile devices for all of their communication needs.

Students who wish to have optional landline telephone access can do so through VIP, through the technology tab. A one-time semester fee will be charged to set this up, along with a semester charge. This service along with long-distance plans can be purchased online through VIP. Students can also use their own preferred long distance carrier by dialing the carrier's "800" number for access. "900" numbers, person-to-person, or telegram calls cannot be placed from any University telephone.

The University is unable to allow students to receive collect calls or bill calls to their University telephone number. Also, University telephone numbers may not be used as calling card numbers with any long distance carrier. The University does reserve the right to pass on any charges that are made to the student for payment and to further pursue formal disciplinary action if payment is not received when these stipulations are violated. The University will report any violations in calling card or collect calling to the Office of Student Judicial Programs, http://www.sc.edu/osjp/ .

How-to setup your Landline Phone Service: Go to https://vip.sc.edu Login and select the Technology link. Click on "Show me Student Landline Phone Services" Select the term or semester you wish to order this service. Follow the appropriate links to complete your request.

NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS

• Fall and Spring semester charges are $82/per semester (this includes a service charge and semester fee)
• Maymester, Summer I and Summer II charges are $44 (this includes a service charge and semester fee)

EXISTING SUBSCRIPTIONS

• An $18.75 service charge will be added for students changing rooms in their same residence hall. This charge will be in addition to the semester rate of $57 for the Fall/Spring Semester and $19 for Maymester/Summer I/II.
• A $25 service charge will be added if the student moves into a different residence hall.  This charge will be in addition to the semester rate of $57 for the Fall/Spring Semester and $19 for Maymester/Summer I/II.

• Student phone service changes can be requested by calling the Help Desk at (803) 777-1800.
• If you leave the University campus before the semester ends, make sure you cancel your student phone service. This can be done in VIP. No refund will be issued for cancellation before the end of the term.
• No refund will be issued for cancellation before the end of the term.
• Phone services will be deactivated on or before the first business day following commencement at the end of each semester. For Maymester, Summer I and II, the Voice Service will be deactivated at the close of each term. A new application for Voice Service is required for each semester.  
• On-Campus Dialing Instructions (NOTE: The area codes for South Carolina are 803, 843, and 864)
  

  What Area Are You Dialing?	Here's How You Dial!
  On-Campus Students (544-xxxx)	4 + last four digits
  On-Campus Staff/Faculty (777-xxxx) (576-xxxx)	7 + last four digits or 6 + last four digits.
  Columbia Local Calling Area	9 + seven digit number
  Long Distance Direct 9+ Service	9 + 1 + area code + seven digit number + wait for a dial tone, enter your authorization code.
  Long Distance With Personal Calling Card	9 + 0 + area code + seven digit number Enter your calling card number after you hear the tone.
  Long Distance With 800 No. Access	For Another Carrier: 9 + 1 + ("800" number) Then follow the carrier's instructions.
  International With 9+ Service	9 + 011 + country code + city code + number After you receive dial tone, enter your authorization code.
  Information Service On Campus Operator	0
  Information For Columbia Area (Students)	9 + 411 + authorization code
  Information Within the United States (Students)	9 + 1 + area code + 555-1212 + authorization code



• Special telephone features
  

  Special Feature	How To Use
  Call Waiting	This provides for a tone which can be heard while you are taking part in a conversation and another caller tries to reach you. After hearing the tone, depress your switchhook quickly but solidly. Dial 106. Your first call is now on hold and the second one is on your phone. To alternate between calls - Depress your switchhook quickly but solidly. Dial 106. Resume your conversation with the call previously on hold. You may also simply disconnect the first call by hanging up and the second call will then ring on your phone. To permanently remove call waiting, please call University Technology Services at 777-1800 and request to have call waiting removed from your extension. For students, this requires agreement from all roommates sharing a single telephone number. To temporarily remove call waiting, dial 113. You should then dial your number with the dial tone received and not hang up. This will only block call waiting for the duration of this call.
  Call Hold	This allows you to place a call into a hold state while you do something else such as look up some information that the caller needs. Depress your switchhook quickly but solidly. Listen for the special tones. Lay the handset down. The caller cannot hear anything going on at your end. To return to the call, depress the switchhook again and resume your conversation. After dialing a long distance number and there is no connection, hold the switch hook down for 8 seconds before dialing out again. Otherwise it will put the first call on hold and a charge will be applied.
  Stutter Dial Tone	Have you ever wanted voice mail but didn't apply for it because your telephone set doesn't have a message waiting light? University Technology Services can install a feature called Stutter Dial Tone which is an audible sound that tells voice mail users a message is waiting in their mailbox. Call 7-1800 if you would like to try this service. Charges may occur.

VOICEMAIL, LONG DISTANCE & COLLECT CALLS

• All Landline phone services include a voicemail box
• Voicemail instructions and information can be found at http://uts.sc.edu/infrastructure/telephoneVoiceMail.shtml
• Long distance plans can be chosen through the technology link of VIP
• The University is unable to allow students to receive collect calls or bill calls to their University telephone number. Also, University telephone numbers may not be used as calling card numbers with any long distance carrier. The University will report any violations in calling card or collect calling to the Office of Student Judicial Programs, http://www.sc.edu/osjp/ .    
  
  Please allow 3 business days for any change to take effect.