VoIP means telephony that sends live voice traffic across a network connection using Internet Protocol protocols. A key benefit of VoIP is its ability to help reduce costs because phone conversations take place over the data network rather than the phone company's services. IP telephony encompasses the entire suite of VoIP related services including the interfacing of phone sets for communications; related services such as invoicing and dialing plans; and core features including group calls, call transfer, forward, and call hold. These services were often once handled by a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).

VoIP is the natural starting point for unified communications solutions. Cisco's Unified Communications system of voice, video, mobile, and Internet Protocol communications offerings provides the tools for building a centralized converged network that can manage multiple types of traffic simultaneously. Cisco provides this functionality while sustaining an outstanding level of network availability, QoS, and security. Important benefits of Cisco's telephony product line include:

• A flexible, standards-based upgrade path that allows you to choose IP solutions that meet your current requirements, while providing a smooth path for expanding IP integration
• Quality of Service mechanisms that help ensure high voice fidelity by means of tight control of delay, drop out, and distortion
• Network management products that facilitate system administration, operations, repair, setup, fault tracking, and device control

The framework of Cisco's IP communications solution consists of communications endpoints, processing agents, and IP telephony applications.

Communications Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user device, either a physical phone set or a software phone program powered by a personal computer. In the Internet Protocol environment, every phone is Ethernet connected. Voice over IP phones have all of the features that a conventional phone handset has. IP phones often have additional functions including the ability to connect to the web or host useful applications. Cisco VoIP handsets include Cisco's 24-button IP Phone 7931G, Cisco's Cordless IP Phone 7921G, and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7985G desktop video phone.

Within a Cisco Internet Protocol phone network, you can also select Cisco's IP Communicator, a desktop computer-based phone. When use the Cisco IP Communicator off-site, you take your virtual office wherever you go and also have available the familiar phone services you have in the office. IT administrators can set up the IP Communicator the way they do any other Cisco IP Phone, significantly streamlining IP phone management.

In contrast to ordinary PBX technology, in a Cisco IP phone network you can implement virtually instantaneous relocations, additions, and changes. You merely take the VoIP phone to your new spot, attach it to an Ethernet connection, and the handset registers itself with Cisco Communications Manager. All user permissions and settings are automatically replicated, eliminating the cost and hassle of dispatching support personnel to rewire connections. Another useful feature is extension capability, which enables you to log into any Cisco IP device and receive your own phone number and rights.

Centralized and Remote Call-processing Agents
Cisco's call-processing agent is the heart of Cisco's IP Phone solution. To meet your organizational needs you can choose to install a central call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a combination of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Communications Manager expands enterprise phone features to packet telephony products such as VoIP handsets, media management products, VoIP gateways, and multimedia programs across the environment. Cisco Communications Manager enables additional mixed media services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative client communication networks.

When a central Communications Manager cluster also takes care of call management for users at remote locations, administrators can help ensure non-stop phone operation through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN link fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the Cisco offers core Communications Manager capabilities until the connection is repaired.

For small networks or loosely coupled small corporation branch locations that do not need the complete, enterprise-class functionality offered by Communications Manager, Unified Communications Manager Express offers an economical alternative that handles the requirements of locations with as many as 240 workers. Because Unified Communications Manager Express is built into the IOS Software operating on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can quickly and simply implement a converged voice/data solution.

Internet Protocol Phone Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, Internet Protocol phone applications are physically separate from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may be anywhere within the system. A single connectivity infrastructure provides a versatile environment for powerful applications, and acts as a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based applications.

Cisco cooperates with key technology vendors to provide a broad range of independent Internet Protocol telephony applications and devices. Cisco also enables the ability to develop and manage customized applications.

Cisco Unity Solutions for Unified Messaging
The Cisco Unity platform offers advanced voicemail plus integrated messaging functions that seamlessly operate with Microsoft Exchange and other messaging platforms. Cisco Unity scales to handle the requirements of major enterprises and provides powerful migration utilities and a wide range of productivity increasing functions.

Cisco's Unity system works with both Cisco Communications Manager and popular PBX systems to allow your business to move up to IP telephony at a comfortable pace and preserve your existing infrastructure investments. Cisco's solution also includes a variety of networking adapters that allow sophisticated message interchange with popular voice-mail products. When you are upgrading to the Cisco Unity solution, these network modules help to ensure a smooth migration by giving you the capability to exchange messages with internal system users who rely a different messaging platform.

Unity Connection incorporates unified messaging, voice recognition, and call transfer rules into a manageable system for medium-sized businesses with as many as 3000 workers. For businesses with up to 500 users, Cisco Unity Connection is offered as a single-server solution with Unified Communications Manager Business Edition.

Unity Connection is a highly functional solution built on a platform that is easy to deploy and maintain. With Cisco Unity Connection workers can retrieve voice messages via Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, use the display on their Cisco Unified IP handset to view, search, and file voice mail. and even use the voice recognition interface of Cisco Unity Connection to connect to and attend Unified MeetingPlace Express meetings. Cisco Unity Connection also provides robust automated attendant functions that include smart call routing and easily customizable call screen and message alert selections.

Unity Express, available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response, and automated-attendant functions for small to medium businesses and corporate branch locations with up to 250 users.

How Progent's Engineers Can Assist You with Cisco's VoIP Technology
Progent can provide a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert or certified CCNP to help you to implement and manage Cisco VoIP products. Progent's developers can build custom unified messaging applications that will help your company to incorporate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for increased efficiency. Progent can audit your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to make sure your system is configured to accommodate VoIP, assist you to choose and deploy Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current needs and downstream expansion strategy, and interface your Cisco VoIP solution with products from other vendors.

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