Sending live voice and video over Internet Protocol has evolved from simply being being a smart technique to cut phone carrier bills to being an indispensable tool for collaboration and worker productivity. Unified communications, once limited to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single system in order to take the place of traditional PBX equipment, today includes voice and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, real-time presence, collaboration services, and much more in a single ecosystem that is manageable, extensible, secure, resilient, cost-effective, and intuitive.
Cisco is the market leader in supplying solutions for supporting the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the efficiency of information systems by slashing operational costs; combining multiple collaboration features with familiar software applications to increase worker output; facilitating teamwork among workers, associates, and suppliers to save effort and enhance business results; and streamlining the support of your communications infrastructure.
Cisco's Unified Communications solutions cover these important product areas:,
Call Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the heart of Cisco's IP Communications infrastructure and provides the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized design, or a combination of the two. In a centralized approach, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise phone capabilities to packet network devices such as IP handsets, media processing products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications across the network. Cisco Unified Communications Manager enables extra multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and collaborative client interaction networks.
The most recent version of Unified CM, formerly named CallManager, offers a variety of improvements that expedite ROI by lowering administrative and maintenance expenses, improving worker output, facilitating teamwork, accommodating the BYOD style of computing, strengthening security, and making optimal use of IT infrastructure. Top new features include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on (SSO) for managers and end users, hardware-independent call recording, on-the-road connectivity without requiring VPN tunneling, a new self-provisioning interface that makes it easy for end users to select their options for all of their devices, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.
In cases where you deploy a central Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for users at remote sites, IT managers can help ensure continuous phone availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN link breaks, Cisco SRST incorporated in the Cisco router provides core Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the connection is repaired. For information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco ISR routers, see consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco routers.
For small business networks, branch locations, and retail environments that do not require the complete feature set offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly known as CallManager Express offers an economical PBX alternative that meets the requirements of sites with as many as 450 workers. Since Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the IOS Software running on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can rapidly deploy a unified voice/data environment.
Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a family of all-in-one platforms that offer fundamental unified communications capabilities such as routing, gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, allowing any user to collaborate on any endpoint from anywhere. All Business Edition 6000 systems are delivered preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications, making implementation quick and easy and reducing cost of ownership for companies with up to 1000 employees. All BE6000 versions are delivered preconfigured with virtualization and UC applications software. Organizations can simply activate Unified Communications software applications as their requirements evolve.
The entry-level BE6000S supports five fixed unified communications applications installed on a single integrated ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and supports a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 devices. The mid-market BE6000M supports 4 UC application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H includes 8 collaboration application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform and can handle up to 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.
For more information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), visit Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager planning, configuration, upgrades and technical support.
IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is a user device, and can be a physical handset or a software phone program on a PC or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each VoIP phone has an Ethernet connection. IP phones have all of the features that an ordinary phone handset has, but VoIP phones can also provide extra features including being able to access the web or host collaboration software.
In contrast to ordinary PBX technology, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can perform virtually instantaneous moves, additions, and changes. All you do is take the IP handset to its new location, attach it to an Ethernet connection, and the phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client permissions and configurations are automatically replicated, eliminating the expense and hassle of sending technicians to rewire connections. Another useful capability is location independence, which enables you to log into any Cisco IP device and receive your personal phone number and rights.
Cisco offers a broad selection of VoIP handsets. The low-cost SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome phones that feature high-quality audio, support for hosted IP phone environments or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple installation and safe remote provisioning, zero-downtime software upgrades, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with one Ethernet port, and a corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, designed solely for use with the Cisco SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiline wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color display, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an economical 3-line SIP-based IP phone with dual Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speakerphone.
The SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost endpoints that support both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, PoE, and voice conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G has four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G has eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no programmable keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, supports five lines, and has five programmable buttons.
Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices designed for occasional-use environments like cafeterias, hallways, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit screen, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device with no screen and requires a hook switch for transferring a call and conferencing.
The 7800 family of value-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints featuring backlit monochrome displays, four soft keys, 11 dedicated buttons, an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet, and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All models in the 7800 line incorporate the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a state-of-the-art audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the higher end 7800 units, reduces off-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for common locations as well as for employees with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only device in the 7800 series to support 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrative staff, call center agents, and supervisors who have significant voice communications needs.
The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video endpoints with a 320 x 240 color display, an integral Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both VoIP phones have a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line IP voice and video phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable buttons.
Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-only endpoints that includes desktop devices, a conference phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft keys and 12 dedicated buttons. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cisco's IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color screen and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.
Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are industrial-grade wireless devices designed for workers who are on the move within campus, hospitality, retail or other environments where management requires portable phones that provide more control, security and durability than is possible with the Bring-Your-Own-Device mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer mobile on-premises workers the advantages of voice over wireless LAN technology in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color display, a rugged case designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for dust and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver to support cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds protection against sparking for hazardous work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell composed out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to locate in a crisis. Find out about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration support.
Cisco's discontinued 9900 Series of advanced VoIP endpoints mix high-definition voice with high-resolution color screens to provide a rich multimedia communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both IP phones in the 9900 line incorporate an SD 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to work with a broad selection of headsets, and a built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch. The Cisco Power Save function is optional and can reduce off-hour energy draw by up to 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and 4 customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys.
Unified Communications Application Software
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other converged applications are physically isolated from the call- and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside at any location within the network. A cohesive connectivity infrastructure provides a versatile platform for powerful applications and acts as a solid basis for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with third-party IT industry vendors to provide a wide selection of IP phone and video software applications and devices. Cisco also supports the ability to create and administer specialized internal programs.
Unified Communications applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's consultants include:
Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC application that supports presence, instant messaging, voice, high-definition video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for Windows PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with major enhancements in the areas of HD video features and desktop sharing, and expanding the team experience to more platforms and devices. Jabber works with Unified CM for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.
Because Jabber is built around popular industry standards, it can communicate with a wide range of third-party platforms. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Cisco Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence data with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac OS, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber collaboration features are available from Microsoft Office programs including Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This broad platform support optimizes productivity by providing a common user experience and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of networking. Progent can provide the expertise of certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint experts who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration products. Progent also offers help with iPhone integration and Google Android phone integration to assist you to enhance the productivity of your BYOD environment.
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides web meetings for users with a web browser or virtually any PC or mobile device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is offered as SaaS via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of administration, avoids major up-front expenditures, offers high availability and enterprise-class data protection, and provides fast performance. Important features include the ability to share discrete content or an whole screen display with remote attendees in real time, the capability to embed multimedia into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and support for Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted connections with tight policy control.
WebEX Meeting Center runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and allows mobile users to start, schedule, and attend conferences on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. You can also launch online meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a selection of IM applications.
Cisco TelePresence Products for On-premises Video Conferencing Ecosystems
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who wish to build an in-house or hybrid local/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-quality video conferencing for attendees with virtually any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can expand conferences to support cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of how teleconferencing bandwidth and features should be rationed for every individual attendee, enabling managers to specify the exact service level and experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live distribution and video on demand playback.
Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voicemail system that facilitates productive collaboration by offering flexible set of options for retrieving calls and messages within a framework that is simple to deploy and manage. Unity Connection allows you to access and manage voicemail from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also provides advanced speech-recognition features for hands and eyes free operation and powerful Automated Attendant functions such as intelligent routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-alert settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a virtual machine that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can accommodate as many as 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.
Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco ISR routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant services for small to medium businesses and corporate satellite offices with up to 500 workers. Unity Express allows users to manage voicemail messages via a Cisco IP Phone screen, a browser, or an email system. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide certified deployment and support services for ISR routers.
Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates closely with Unified CM and desktop agent software such as Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the appropriate sales or service agent. Unified CCE or UCCE provides smart call routing, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel contact management, network call queuing, IVR and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the deployment and administration of a large-scale contact center. Cisco products supporting UCCE's customer interaction management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.
Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged bundle for building a customer interaction management center for mid-scale systems that handle up to 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a variety of optional enhancements. Unified CCX integrates closely with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and provides intelligent call routing, client management, reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express comes with Cisco Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Optional advanced features include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time messages, and workforce quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be reached from a single phone number that rings at the same time on their Cisco desktop IP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can switch active calls between their Cisco VoIP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that specify which calls are extended to different endpoints.
Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration provides an automated platform for first-time installs and for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface provides a unified look at a user and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration substantially accelerates site rollouts and minimizes the time needed for ongoing changes. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics including application adoption and consumption trends, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.
Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications environments to communicate with public networks and with clients working beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways deliver unified communications services for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.
Collaboration gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:
Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that allows organizations to allow colleagues, suppliers, consumers, or business partners who are using different networks, collaboration applications, or endpoint equipment to connect to Cisco Unified Communication functions. The Expressway gateway works with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco HCS to help make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important features of Cisco Expressway are:
Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an early VoIP gateway system for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, IP video, firewall, and wireless capabilities, work with older Cisco VoIP phones, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) interfaces.
All of UC500 packages include a desktop switch with 8 PoE interfaces and additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Each UC500 model also includes licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package supports 24 to 32 clients and has 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 package supports 48 users and 12 FXO interfaces.
Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient migration to a current VoIP system like Cisco's Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers remote or on-premises access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration specialist to assist your business to design, deploy, administer and repair unified communications environments based on Cisco Unified Communication technology in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified engineers have extensive backgrounds with Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, IP voice and video phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing products, collaboration gateways, utilities incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide support for technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration experts can also help you to build SIP infrastructure environments that include SIP IP voice phones and media endpoints, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools via Cisco Unified CM.
Progent's custom application developers can create specialized IP telephony software that will enable your organization to incorporate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for increased efficiency. Progent can analyze your existing network and Internet access infrastructure to make sure your system is optimized to support business-quality IP voice and high-definition video, help you to select and install Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current situation and future expansion plans, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications solution with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security and compliance consultants can show you how to create, implement, and validate an enterprise-wide security strategy for your converged communications solution. In addition, Progent can help you to configure Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and telecommuter sites, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness consultants can help you create a sensible disaster recovery strategy to protect your crucial unified communications environment.
Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Versions of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 earlier than 8.6 and every version of CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will cease to develop, repair, or validate this older software. Security patches for this business-critical product will end, which in certain circumstances may cause compliance or potential liability problems.
Progent will continue to provide world-class consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated releases of Cisco Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if you are still running a legacy edition of this critical software your organization should start immediately to prepare for your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can assist your company to upgrade non-disruptively to the current version of Unified Communications Manager and can typically save clients up to 50% off consulting service fees compared to most IT service firms because of Progent's documented process and experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can make sure your organization gets a quick payback on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the new and improved features, reduced management and support expense, more productive collaboration capabilities, and tighter data protection offered by the latest version of Cisco Unified CM.
Progent's migration services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, system testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party suppliers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, security and compliance services, streamlined management, business continuity planning, network architecture design, staff and user training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable upgrade service bundles to keep your costs predictable and affordable.
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