AFP information services network engineer, Mark Barrett, said after going from standard analogue phones to IP phones with high-function screens, staff were initially concerned, but quickly discovered the benefits of unified communications.

"We haven't tried to force-feed people the capabilities, [but] have a whole bunch of really easy wins on the board like dialling from Outlook contacts," Barrett said at this year's Avaya Connect conference on Thursday in Sydney.

"Once a PA has used it they moan when you take it away form them, because they make hundreds of calls per day."

Another benefit is Outlook journaling, which gives ACT Police (governed by the AFP) an easy way to keep records of interactions with the public.

"ACT Police love the new system because, when they make phone call it's logged into Outlook journal," he said.