Cisco VoIP Professional ServicesSending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a shrewd way to cut phone bills to a required technology for productive collaboration. Converged communications, once limited to managing Internet-based voice and faxes on a single network platform to take the place of traditional PBX systems, today incorporates VoIP and video, mobile communications, IM, real-time presence, services, and much more in a cohesive environment that is easy to manage, scalable, secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.

Cisco is the leader in supplying the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the modern paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications architecture enhances the efficiency of information networks by cutting operating expenses; integrating multiple collaboration features with popular software programs to improve user output; facilitating collaboration among workers, associates, and suppliers to save time and enhance business results; and simplifying the support of your communications infrastructure.

Cisco's Unified Communications solutions include several important product categories:,

  • Call Control Platforms for controlling calls and sessions
  • Collaboration Endpoints to optimize end-user engagement
  • Unified Communications Software Applications for more productive access to presence, IM, voice and video, phone messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
  • Communications Gateways for providing connectivity with outside networks and teleworkers
Progent offers the remote or on-premises services of a Cisco-certified CCIE (Collaboration) specialist who can help businesses of all sizes to plan, configure, manage, upgrade, expand, relocate, and troubleshoot Cisco unified communications products so you can maximize the competitive advantage of your communications investment. Progent can deliver expert consulting for all components of Cisco's unified communications solutions such as call processing and control software, VoIP and softphones, and teleconferencing platforms. Progent also offers consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco's rich media-optimized network infrastructure products including Integrated Services routers, Catalyst switches, ASA firewalls, and IP voice gateways.

Call and Session Processing Agents - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco IP Communications Consulting and SupportThe call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP telephony solution and gives you the flexibility to deploy a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized design, or a mix of both. In a centralized approach, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise telephony capabilities to packet devices such as IP handsets, media management appliances, VoIP gateways, and mixed media programs across the network. Unified Communications Manager enables additional multimedia services including unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative client interaction networks.

The latest version of Unified Communications Manager, formerly known as CallManager, includes a variety of enhancements that accelerate your return on investment by lowering administrative and maintenance costs, increasing worker productivity, facilitating teamwork, accommodating the bring-your-own-device style of computing, strengthening data protection, and allowing efficient utilization of network infrastructure. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, streamlined certificate control, extended support for single sign-on for administrators and end users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN, a revamped self-provisioning interface that makes it simple for workers to install their options for all endpoints, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

In cases where you deploy a central Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for users at remote locations, IT managers can help achieve non-stop call service through Cisco SRST, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN link fails, Cisco SRST in the Cisco router offers core UC Manager services until the connection is repaired. For a description of Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

For small businesses, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not need the full feature set available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express provides a budget-friendly solution that handles the needs of sites with up to 450 workers. Since Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller organizations can quickly deploy a unified voice and data environment.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a family of complete solutions that offer essential unified communications capabilities including routing, IP gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, chat and presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging services, enabling any user to collaborate on any device from any place. All BE6000 systems come preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications, making implementation quick and easy and reducing operating expenses for companies with from 25 to 1000 employees. All BE6000 systems are shipped preloaded with virtualization and UC applications software. You can instantly activate UC software applications as their needs dictate.

The small-scale Business Edition 6000S includes five standard collaboration applications installed on a single integrated router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server platform and supports up to 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The medium-scale BE6000M supports four UC software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and supports as many as 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S Supports 8 unified communications software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and supports up to 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager design, integration, upgrades and technical support.

IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user device, and can be a physical phone or a soft phone program on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each VoIP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the capabilities that a conventional telephone provides, but IP phones can also provide additional features such as the ability to access the web or run collaboration software.

Cisco VoIP Phones HelpIn contrast to conventional PBX technology, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can implement almost instant moves, additions, and changes. You simply take the VoIP phone to its new location, plug it into an Ethernet jack, and the IP phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All client rights and configurations are programmatically re-established, eliminating the expense and delay of sending support personnel to rewire connections. An additional efficient capability is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your personal phone ID and privileges.

Cisco provides a broad selection of VoIP hardware endpoints. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phones that feature high-quality voice, support for hosted Internet Protocol telephony systems or an IP private branch exchange, simple deployment and secure online installation, unobtrusive software upgrades, and browser-based configuration. The low-end SPA301 is a one-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a corded handset with no keys. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for operation with Cisco's SPA232D DECT ATA, is a multiline cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that offers 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color screen, and a keypad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an affordable 3-line IP phone with two Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speakerphone.

Cisco SPA500 Series IP Phones ConsultingCisco's SPA500 line IP phones are low-cost endpoints that support both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing capability. Most models have a 128 x 64 mono screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight soft keys but no hi-res display. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G has eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G IP Phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no programmable buttons and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has soft keys, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, supports five lines, and has five soft keys.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices designed for infrequent-use settings like lobbies, hallways, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono screen, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint with no screen and uses a hook switch for call transfer or joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 family of value-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop devices featuring backlit monochrome screens, four soft buttons, 11 dedicated buttons, an Ethernet switch with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control 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 best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the advanced 7800 units, reduces off-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for common areas and for workers with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available through an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP phone 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 family that provides Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device targeted for administrators, call center agents, and supervisors who have heavy call requirements.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color screen, an integral Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet, 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G includes four lines. Both VoIP phones include a 5-inch screen and four soft 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 keys.

Cisco 8800 Series IP Phones Consultants

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-based endpoints that features desktop devices, a conference phone, and mobile 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 buttons and 12 fixed-feature keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit monochrome display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color screen and one USB connection 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, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, two USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco Wireless IP Phone Integration ConsultantsCisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade wireless devices designed for workers who are on the move within office, warehouse, retail or other venues where management wants portable phones that offer more control, security and durability than is achievable with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) style of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer mobile onsite users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a 2.4 inch color screen, a rugged shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for dust and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth transceiver to support cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for hazardous work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a case made out of yellow plastics, which makes it easier to find during a crisis. Find out about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration consultants.

Cisco 9900 Series VoIP Phones SupportCisco's discontinued 9900 family of powerful IP endpoints mix high-quality voice with business-grade color video to deliver a productive collaborative experience for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both models in this family have an SD 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth transceiver to support a wide range of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port. The Cisco Power Save function is optional and can reduce off-work energy use by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for deployment with voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and four customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 allows up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, video, and other converged applications are physically isolated from the call-processing and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside at any location within the system. A cohesive connectivity framework offers an open platform for powerful applications and serves as a firm basis for future convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with third-party IT industry vendors to offer a wide range of IP telephony and video software applications and products. Cisco also enables the ability to create and administer specialized in-house programs.

Collaborative application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a unified communications client application that provides presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets as well as smartphones. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements to video capabilities and screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration environment to additional platforms and devices. Jabber works in conjunction with Unified Communications Manager for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.

Because Cisco Jabber utilizes key industry standards, it can interoperate with a wide range of third-party products. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Cisco Jabber users to trade IM and presence data with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber collaboration features are available from Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This extensive platform compatibility maximizes output by providing a common end-user environment and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent can provide the expertise of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint programmers who can show you how to use Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also offers help with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android phone integration and management to assist your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables web and video meetings for participants using a browser or almost any PC or mobile computer. WebEx Meeting Center is offered as SaaS through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and scale, reduces the cost of management, avoids heavy initial investment, offers high availability and enterprise-grade security, and delivers fast throughput. Key features include the ability to share discrete content or your whole screen display with online attendees in real time, the capability to embed multimedia into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, network-based recording plus playback for training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with other Cisco collaboration products such as Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

WebEx Web Conferencing Consulting and Support

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered PCs and allows mobile users to initiate, calendarize, and attend meetings on Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also launch online conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a variety of instant messaging applications.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who wish to create an in-house or hybrid local/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence products that enable high-quality and standards-based teleconferencing for attendees with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to UC deployments and can expand meetings to incorporate cloud-based Cisco WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of the way teleconferencing resources are allocated for each participant, enabling managers to specify the exact service level and user experience needed for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live streaming as well as video on demand playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voice Messaging
Cisco's Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voicemail solution that facilitates collaboration by offering flexible set of options for retrieving calls and messages within an environment that is simple to deploy and administer. Unity Connection allows you to read and manage voicemail from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, an iPhone or other smartphone, or a tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition capabilities for hands-free operation and extensive Automated Attendant capabilities that include intelligent routing for inbound calls and custom call-screening and message-alert options. The Cisco Unity Connection system operates as a fully virtualized system that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support as many as 20,000 voice mailboxes on each server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco ISR routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant services for small to medium businesses and enterprise satellite locations with as many as 500 voice mailboxes. Cisco Unity Express permits users to access and manage voicemail messages via a Cisco IP Phone display, a browser, or an email client. Cisco routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide comprehensive configuration and troubleshooting services for all Integrated Services Routers.

Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates with Unified Communications Manager and desktop agent apps such as Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to connect customers with the appropriate sales or service agent. Unified CCE features intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel customer contact management, network-wide call queuing, IVR and consolidated enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the creation and management of a modern contact center. Cisco products supporting Unified CCE's client contact management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) provides an out-of-the-box solution for creating a customer interaction management center for mid-scale deployments that support up to 400 agents. Multiple bundles are available, plus a variety of optional enhancements. Unified Contact Center Express integrates closely with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and offers intelligent call routing, client interaction management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, web chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX includes Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Optional enhancements include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time messages, and workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be reached from a single number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco IP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can transfer active conversations between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered 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 alternate endpoints.

Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning offers an automated process for first-time deployments and for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface provides a single view of a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration significantly accelerates company-wide rollouts and reduces the time required to implement future updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics including technology adoption and consumption rates, allowing administrators to optimize resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications networks to connect with other networks and with users operating beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways provide unified communications support for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control deployments.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's certified consultants include:

Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that enables organizations to allow team members, vendors, customers, or partners who are using various outside networks, collaboration applications, or endpoint devices to connect to Cisco Unified Communication functions. The Expressway collaboration gateway integrates with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco Business Edition 6000 (BE6000), or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Key features of Expressway are are:

  • Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Off-site workers who have any Jabber-supported client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the benefit of single-sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to connect to all their Jabber workloads (video, high-quality voice, content IM, and presence) without the extra step of establishing a VPN. Also, telecommuters can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user experience at home the same as the corporate office.
  • Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is critical for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to communicate with your organization easily and safely using lightweight browser and mobile video calls.
  • Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway offers a world-class, extensible meeting experience that transparently combines business-quality voice, HD video, and data sharing to any client, at any location, using any device.
  • Interoperability: If your organization currently has non-Cisco video systems, Cisco Expressway can assist you to migrate efficiently to Cisco products whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) environments. Internetworking standards supported by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC) to H.264/AVC.
Cisco Unified Border Element
Cisco Unified Border Element is an advanced session border gateway that interconnects unified communications networks to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). In addition to providing session border control, CUBE delivers simple and affordable collaboration outside the enterprise firewall. Important collaboration functions supported by CUBE include:
  • Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-based audio conferencing
  • Voice and Video recording
  • SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) applications
  • Policy-led evaluation of phone calls
  • B2B teleconferencing over SIP
Cisco Unified Border Element software can be licensed on Cisco IOS software and can be deployed on a wide selection of Cisco's enterprise router platforms, including ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, the Cisco ISR 4000 Series, the ISR G2 Series, and several versions of Cisco's 800 Series fixed routers. Cisco's virtualized CUBE, or vCUBE, runs as a software load in an ESXi virtual container.

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is a VoIP and unified communications system for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, security, and WiFi capabilities, work with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support PSTN interfaces.

Cisco UC500 Series VoIP Gateway Consultants

Cisco's legacy UC500 VoIP switch was the heart of a comprehensive unified communications ecosystem

All of UC500 packages include a desktop switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional FXS and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Built-in WiFi is an option. User capacity can be increased by connecting with 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 VoIP users and incorporate 4 FXS and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package supports 24 to 32 clients and has 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 package supports 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient upgrade to a current VoIP system like Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide online or on-premises access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to help your business to plan, deploy, administer and repair unified communications environments supported by Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, cloud-based, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco consultants have extensive backgrounds supporting Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, UC applications like Cisco Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, H.323 and SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP infrastructure experts can also help you to build SIP connectivity solutions that incorporate SIP IP voice phones and video endpoints, SIP-based CUBE trunks, and SIP administration tools via Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's custom application developers can build specialized IP telephony applications that will help your organization to incorporate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can analyze your existing network and Internet connectivity architecture to determine whether your environment is configured to accommodate high-quality VoIP and high-definition video, help you to choose and install Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current needs and downstream growth plans, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications products with products from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security and compliance consultants can assist you to create, deploy, and test a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can help your organization to configure Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for cost-effective call control backup in remote-branch and home-office sites, and Progent's disaster recovery planning experts can help you create a sensible disaster recovery plan to ensure the availability of your vital unified communications environment.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Services
Versions of Unified CM before 8.6 and every version of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. This means Cisco will cease to enhance, repair, or validate this older software. Security patches for this pivotal product will end, which in certain circumstances may create compliance or even potential liability problems.

Progent continues to provide comprehensive consulting and support for outdated releases of Unified CM and CallManager, but if your business is now running a legacy release of this essential software you should start now to prepare for your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist your company to upgrade efficiently to the latest release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can routinely save clients up to 50% off consulting costs compared to most computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your company gets a quick payback on your investment by helping you take full advantage of the new and improved features, reduced management and support expense, more engaging collaboration, and tighter data protection provided by the newest version of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's migration services include return-on-investment analysis, project management or co-management, pilot testing, Cloud integration, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party vendors, smartphone and tablet connectivity, data protection services, management automation, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network topology design, training, and ongoing consulting services and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable migration service bundles to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

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