Sending live voice and video over Internet Protocol has evolved from simply being being a smart way to reduce phone carrier bills to being a strategic tool for collaboration and worker productivity. Converged communications, at one time limited to combining Internet-based voice and faxes on the same system in order to replace expensive PBX equipment, now includes VoIP and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, real-time presence, services, and much more all within a cohesive framework that is manageable, scalable, protected, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.
Cisco is the global leader in supplying the hardware and software infrastructure required to support the new model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the productivity of IT systems by slashing operating expenses; combining rich media features with popular software applications to increase worker output; supporting collaboration among employees, partners, and vendors to save time and enhance business outcomes; and simplifying the management of your communications environment.
Cisco's Unified Communications solutions address these primary product areas:,
Call Control Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP telephony solution and gives you the versatility to deploy a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of the two. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise phone capabilities to packet telephony devices such as VoIP handsets, media management products, VoIP gateways, and multimedia applications throughout the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports additional multimedia services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative customer interaction networks.
The most recent release of Cisco Unified CM, previously branded Cisco CallManager, includes a variety of enhancements that speed up ROI by lowering administrative and support expenses, increasing user output, facilitating teamwork, accommodating the BYOD model of computing, strengthening data protection, and making optimal use of network resources. Headline new features include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), simplified certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on for managers and users, device-agnostic call recording, on-the-road access without requiring VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care interface that makes it simple for workers to select their preferences for all devices, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile clients.
When you implement a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for customers at remote sites, administrators can help achieve non-stop phone service using Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network connection fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the Cisco router provides core Cisco Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the link is repaired. To learn about Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to consulting services for Cisco Integrated Services routers.
For small businesses, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not require the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express provides a cost-effective solution that handles the requirements of sites with as many as 450 users. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software running on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can rapidly deploy a unified voice and data environment.
The Cisco BE6000 is a family of all-in-one solutions that provide essential unified communications capabilities such as routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, chat and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to connect on any device from any location. All solutions come preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications software, making implementation quick and simple and cutting cost of ownership for companies with up to 1000 employees. All versions are shipped preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software. Organizations can simply enable UC software applications when their needs dictate.
The entry-level BE6000S supports five fixed collaboration software applications installed on one integrated 2921V ISR router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server platform and can handle up to 150 users and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M includes four unified communications software application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server platform and supports a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end Business Edition 6000H Supports 8 collaboration application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server and has the capacity for as many as 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.
For additional information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Unified Communications Manager and CallManager design, integration, upgrades and technical support.
IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Media Phones
A communications endpoint is an end-user instrument, and can be a hardware phone set or a software phone application that runs on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP world, each VoIP phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the features that an analog phone handset has, but VoIP phones often have additional features including the ability to connect to the web or run business software.
Unlike ordinary PBX systems, in a Cisco IP telephony environment you can implement almost instant moves, additions, and changes. All you do is take the IP handset to its new location, attach it to the Ethernet jack, and the phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user permissions and settings are programmatically re-established, eliminating the expense and hassle of dispatching technicians to rewire connections. An additional helpful feature is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco IP phone and get your personal phone extension and privileges.
Cisco offers a broad range of Unified CM hardware endpoints. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome phones that feature wide-band audio, support for hosted IP telephony environments or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), simple deployment and secure remote provisioning, zero-downtime software updates, and web-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line IP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has a single Ethernet connector, and a wired handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for operation with the Cisco SPA232D DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) IP phone that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color screen, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an affordable 3-line SIP-based phone with two switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speakerphone.
The SPA500 Series VoIP phones are low-cost devices with support for SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing capability. Most models have a 128 x 64 monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight soft buttons but no LCD screen. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G IP Phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G has four lines, no soft keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color screen, supports five lines, and has five programmable buttons.
Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty IP voice endpoints intended for infrequent-use settings such as lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit display, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and PoE. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device without a screen and uses a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.
The 7800 family of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop devices with backlit mono displays, four programmable buttons, 11 fixed-feature buttons, an Ethernet port with Class 1 PoE, and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 Series feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a state-of-the-art audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, available on the advanced 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line phone designed for common areas and for employees with occasional-to-light voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-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 high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, call center personnel, and supervisors who have heavy voice communications requirements.
The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 color display, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet, 10 dedicated keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch screen and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line media phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.
Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-based endpoints that features desktop units, a conference phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable keys and 12 dedicated keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a backlit mono display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco 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 features a WVGA color screen and a USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual USB ports 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, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet.
Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices intended for workers who are on the move within office, hospitality, retail or other environments where IT management wants user endpoints that provide more control, security and durability than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide mobile on-premises workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN communications in environments that support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a hi-res color screen, a rugged case rated Mil-SPEC 810G to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for particulate and moisture resistance, long-life batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver for hands-free operation with cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for use in potentially combustible environments. Cisco's 8821-EX also has a case composed of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easier to locate the event of an emergency. Learn about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration and troubleshooting support.
Cisco's legacy 9900 Series of powerful IP endpoints combine high-quality voice with high-resolution color screens to offer a productive collaborative communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. The two IP phones in the 9900 family incorporate a Standard Definition VGA color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 transceiver to work with a broad choice of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise power-save feature is offered as an option and can cut off-hour energy use by 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated Wi-Fi radio for connecting to Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and 4 soft-label touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 IP phone allows up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys.
Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, video, and other converged applications are separate from the call-processing and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may be at any location within the network. A cohesive network infrastructure offers a versatile platform for powerful applications and serves as a solid basis for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco works with leading technology companies to offer a wide selection of IP voice and video applications and devices. Cisco also enables the capability to develop and manage specialized internal programs.
Unified Communications application software available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a UC application that supports presence, instant messaging, voice, HD video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and online conferencing features for PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with major improvements to video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team experience to additional operating systems and devices. Cisco Jabber works with Unified CM for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and WebEX Meeting for online meetings.
Since Cisco Jabber is built around key communication protocols, it can communicate with a broad range of third-party products. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence data with other XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber capabilities are available from Microsoft Office programs such as Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility maximizes productivity by providing a common end-user experience and fully enabling the BYOD model of networking. Progent can provide the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint application developers who can help you to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's premier collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide help with Apple iPhone integration and management and Android smartphone integration to assist your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.
WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables online conferencing for users with a browser or almost any desktop or mobile computer. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is offered as software as a service through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and expand, reduces the cost of administration, avoids high up-front investment, features high availability and enterprise-class security, and provides fast throughput. Important features include support for sharing specific content or your entire screen display with remote participants in real time, the capability to embed rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, recording plus playback for training, single sign-on and integration with other Cisco collaboration products such as Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted access with strict policy management.
WebEX Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and permits mobile workers to initiate, calendarize, and take part in conferences on Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also launch web meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a variety of IM solutions.
Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Video Conferencing Environments
For midsize organizations and enterprises who want to create an in-house or hybrid in-house/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-quality teleconferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that runs with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to bring multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can expand meetings to include cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of the way video conferencing resources are allotted for every individual participant, enabling administrators to specify the precise service level and user experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for real-time distribution and video on demand viewing.
Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voicemail platform that promotes collaboration by providing flexible set of options for accessing calls and messages within an environment that is easy to implement and maintain. Unity Connection allows you to read and manage your voicemail messages from your email inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and extensive Automated Attendant features that include smart routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-notification options. The Cisco Unity Connection system operates as a virtual machine that can reside on a BE6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can accommodate up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.
Cisco Unity Express (CUE), offered in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response, and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and corporate branch locations with up to 500 users. Unity Express permits users to access and manage voicemail messages via a Cisco IP Phone display, a browser, or your email client. Integrated Services Routers for which Unity Express is offered as a network module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide comprehensive consulting and support services for ISR routers.
Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates closely with Cisco CUCM and agent desktop apps such as Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to match customers with the appropriate sales or service agent. UCCE features smart call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), support for multichannel customer contact management, network call queuing, IVR and consolidated company-wide reporting to streamline the deployment and management of a large-scale contact center. Cisco products incorporated in UCCE's client contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.
Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) offers a packaged bundle for creating a customer contact center for branch or midmarket deployments that handle as many as 400 agents. Multiple bundles are offered, as well as a selection of special options. Cisco Unified CCX integrates with Cisco CUCM and offers 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 Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Special options include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time messages, and quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach, allows users to be reached from a single phone number that rings at the same time on their Cisco VoIP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can transfer live conversations between their Cisco IP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls are directed to alternate endpoints.
Cisco Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration offers an automated process 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 user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration substantially speeds up site installations and minimizes the time needed to implement ongoing changes. Prime Collaboration in addition offers management analytics including technology adoption and consumption trends, enabling administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.
Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco converged communications networks to connect with other systems and with clients working beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's line of communication gateways provide UC 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:
Cisco Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gateway that allows companies to allow employees, vendors, customers, or partners who are working on different networks, collaboration platforms, or endpoint equipment to access to Cisco Unified Communication services. The Expressway collaboration gateway works with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco BE6000, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Key capabilities of Cisco Expressway include:
Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is a VoIP communications system for small businesses. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, firewall, and WiFi functionality, work with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network interfaces.
All Cisco's UC500 packages include a compact switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet interfaces and additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) interfaces, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is an option. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 offering also comes with licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 system supports 8 to 16 users and include 4 FXS and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 package allows 32 clients and provides 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 package supports 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.
Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or plan and carry out an efficient upgrade to a modern VoIP solution such as Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide remote or onsite access to a certified CCIE Collaboration expert to help your business to design, deploy, administer and repair converged communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco engineers have extensive experience integrating Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence products, communication gateways, tools built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies such as Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and H.264 gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP infrastructure consultants can also assist you to build SIP connectivity environments that incorporate SIP-based IP voice phones and video phones, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools via Cisco Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's custom application developers can create specialized unified communications software that will enable your organization to incorporate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business operations for enhanced efficiency. Progent can audit your existing network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your environment is optimized to accommodate high-quality VoIP and HD video, help you to select and install Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current situation and downstream growth plans, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications products with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security consultants can assist you to develop, carry out, and test an enterprise-wide security strategy for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can help your organization to configure Cisco high-availability technologies such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning consultants can help you create a viable disaster recovery strategy to ensure the availability of your vital unified communications system.
Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Versions of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and all releases of CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, repair, or test this older software. Security updates for this business-critical product will end, which in certain situations could create regulatory compliance or even potential liability issues.
Progent will continue to provide comprehensive support for end-of-life releases of Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but in case your company is still running an out-of-dated version of this essential application your organization should begin immediately to prepare for your upgrade. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist you to migrate non-disruptively to the latest release of Unified CM and can routinely save customers up to 50% off consulting service costs versus competing IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your company gets a fast payback on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the enhanced feature set, reduced administrative and maintenance expense, more productive collaboration, and stronger data protection offered by the current version of Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's migration services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, configuring endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party suppliers, mobile connectivity, security and compliance services, management automation, business continuity planning, network architecture design, training for IT staff and end users, and continuing consulting and technical support. Progent also offers fixed-priced migration packages to keep your costs visible and affordable.
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