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Sending real-time voice and video over Internet Protocol (VoIP and Video over IP) has advanced from simply being being a savvy means to cut phone bills to being a required technology for collaboration and worker productivity. Unified IP communications, once restricted to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on the same platform in order to replace expensive PBX equipment, now encompasses voice and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, real-time presence, services, and more all within a centralized ecosystem that is manageable, scalable, protected, fault-tolerant, economical, and user friendly.

Cisco is the market leader in supplying solutions for supporting the new paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications architecture enhances the productivity of IT networks by slashing operating expenses; combining multiple collaboration functions with familiar software applications to improve worker output; supporting teamwork among workers, partners, and vendors to save time and enhance business outcomes; and streamlining the administration of your communications infrastructure.

Cisco's UC solutions cover these important product areas:,

• Call Control Platforms for managing rich media calls and sessions
• Communications Phones and Softphones to enhance end-user engagement
• Unified Communications Software Applications for more productive access to real-time, IM, voice and video, phone messages, white boarding, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for interfacing with outside networks and remote users

Call and Session Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
The call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP Communications system and provides the versatility to deploy a central call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate phone features to packet products such as IP handsets, media processing appliances, VoIP gateways, and mixed media programs throughout the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports extra voice, video, and data services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The most recent release of Cisco Unified CM, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, includes a variety of improvements that expedite ROI by lowering administrative and maintenance expenses, improving user productivity, facilitating collaboration, accommodating the BYOD style of working, strengthening data protection, and allowing optimal utilization of network resources. Headline innovations include automatic dial-plan replication, simplified certificate management, extended support for single sign-on for administrators and 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 specify their preferences for all of their endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

When you deploy a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for users at remote sites, IT managers can help ensure non-stop phone service through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN connection fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the router provides core Cisco UC Manager capabilities until the connection is repaired. To learn about Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, refer to consulting support services for Cisco Integrated Services routers.

For small businesses, branch offices, and retail environments that do not require the full functionality available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly known as CallManager Express provides a budget-friendly PBX alternative that handles the requirements of sites with up to 450 workers. Because 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.

Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a family of turn-key solutions that provide essential collaboration features such as routing, gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging support, enabling any end user to connect on any device from any place. All BE6000 systems come packaged preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software, making deployment fast and easy and reducing operating expenses for companies with as many as 1000 employees. All BE6000 versions are shipped preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software. Organizations can instantly enable UC applications whenever their needs evolve.

The small-scale Business Edition 6000S includes five preselected collaboration applications preloaded on one combination 2921V router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and can handle a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M supports 4 collaboration application options activated on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S Supports 8 collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for up to 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), visit Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager design, configuration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Phones
An IP communications endpoint is a user instrument, and can be a hardware phone or a soft phone program that runs on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP environment, every IP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones have all of the capabilities that an ordinary phone handset provides, but IP phones often offer additional features including being able to access the web or run productivity-enhancing applications.

In contrast to ordinary Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP communications network you can implement almost instant moves, adds, and changes. You simply take the IP phone to its new location, attach it to the Ethernet connection, and the device announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All user rights and settings are automatically replicated, eliminating the cost and hassle of sending support personnel to wiring closets. An additional helpful capability is location independence, which allows you to sign into any Cisco IP phone and get your personal phone extension and privileges.

Cisco provides a wide range of collaboration phones. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome devices that feature high-quality audio, support for hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy deployment and highly secure remote provisioning, unobtrusive software upgrades, and web-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with a single Ethernet connector, and a corded handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with the Cisco SPA232D DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiline wireless DECT IP phone that offers 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an economical 3-line SIP-based IP phone with two switched ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 family IP phones are low-cost devices with support for 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 monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no hi-res display. The SPA502G has a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G has four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight soft keys. The SPA509G IP Phone supports 12 lines and features 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no programmable keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 pixel color display, supports five lines, and includes five soft keys.

Cisco's Unified IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices intended for occasional-use environments like lobbies, hallways, and conference centers. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 pixel monochrome non-backlit display, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint without a screen and uses a hook switch for call transfer and joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 Series of value-priced IP phones are VoIP devices with backlit mono screens, four programmable keys, 11 dedicated keys, an integral Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. The 7800 Series support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in Cisco's 7800 line 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, offered on the higher end 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone intended for shared locations and for workers with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. 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 to support Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrative staff, call center personnel, and supervisors who have heavy voice communications requirements.

Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media devices with a 320 x 240 color display, an integral 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line IP voice and video phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-based endpoints that features desktop units, a conference IP phone, and mobile wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable buttons and 12 fixed-feature buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a mono display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 has 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 has a WVGA color display and a USB connection with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 has a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 Power over Ethernet.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices designed for professionals who are mobile within office, warehouse, health-care or other venues where management requires user endpoints that offer more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD mode of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones offer mobile onsite workers the advantages of voice over wireless LAN communications in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a hi-res color screen, a durable shell designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth transceiver for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds spark suppression for potentially combustible environments. The 8821-EX also features a case composed out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easy to find during an emergency. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of powerful IP phones integrate high-definition voice with high-resolution color video to deliver a productive multimedia UC experience for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two models in this line incorporate a Standard Definition 640x480 pixel color screen, a Bluetooth transceiver to work with a broad selection of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise power-save feature is optional and can lower off-work energy use by 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 IP Expansion Modules for expanding customizable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for connecting to Voice-over-WLAN environments, and 4 soft-label touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 VoIP phone allows up to 3 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding customizable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other UC applications are independent from the call/voice processing mechanism, and they may reside anywhere within the network. A cohesive network infrastructure offers a versatile environment for feature-rich business applications and acts as a solid foundation for future convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with third-party IT industry partners to provide a wide range of IP phone and IP video applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to develop and administer customized internal applications.

Unified Communications applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's consultants include:

Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC client application that provides presence, instant messaging, voice, HD video, voicemail, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing features for Windows PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets plus smartphones. Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major improvements to video capabilities and desktop sharing, and expanding the team environment to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Cisco Jabber operates with Cisco Unified CM for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber is built around popular industry standards, it can interoperate with a broad range of third-party platforms. As an example, XMPP enables Cisco Jabber users to trade instant messaging and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac OS, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber capabilities are available from Microsoft Office programs such as Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This cross-platform support optimizes productivity by providing a consistent user experience and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device paradigm of computing. Progent offers the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint programmers who can help you to use Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration products. Progent also offers help with iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android phone integration to help you to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center enables web and video meetings for participants using a web browser or almost any PC or handheld device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as SaaS via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, streamlines administration, avoids heavy initial expenditures, offers maximum uptime and world-class security, and delivers excellent performance. Key features include the ability to share discrete content or your whole screen with online attendees in real time, the capability to incorporate rich media into presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, recording plus editing and playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and support for Cisco collaboration products such as Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy management.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center runs on Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and allows mobile workers to launch, schedule, and take part in meetings on Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a selection of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Video Conferencing Environments
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who wish to build an on-premises or hybrid in-house/cloud solution for teleconferencing, Cisco offers a portfolio of Cisco TelePresence platforms that enable high-definition video conferencing for participants with almost any endpoint device at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable video conferencing bridge that runs with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications deployments and can extend meetings to support cloud-based WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of how conferencing resources should be allocated for every individual participant, enabling managers to define the precise service level and experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video and presentations for real-time distribution as well as video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail and Automated Attendant
Cisco's Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Unified CM, is a unified voicemail system that accelerates teamwork by offering flexible set of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within an environment that is easy to implement and maintain. Unity Connection allows you to access and manage voice messages from your email inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also provides advanced speech-recognition features for hands and eyes free management and powerful Automated Attendant features such as intelligent routing for incoming calls and custom call-filtering and message-alert settings. The Unity Connection system runs as a virtual machine that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can accommodate up to 20,000 voice mailboxes on each server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco ISR routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and greeting services for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and corporate branch locations with as many as 500 voice mailboxes. Cisco Unity Express allows users to manage voicemail using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, your web browser, or your email system. Integrated Services Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers comprehensive configuration and support services for all ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and agent desktop software such as Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to match customers with the appropriate salesperson or service representative. Unified CCE or UCCE offers intelligent call routing, computer telephony integration, multichannel contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and consolidated company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a modern customer contact center. Cisco platforms incorporated in Unified CCE's client interaction management ecosystem include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) offers an out-of-the-box solution for creating a customer contact center for branch or midmarket systems that support as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are offered, as well as a variety of optional advanced features. Cisco Unified CCX integrates with Cisco CUCM and provides smart call distribution, contact interaction management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and management of voice, email, web chat, and social media inquiries. Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client-side software setup. Advanced options include conditional routing, estimated-wait-time messages, and 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 via a single phone number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco desktop IP Phone and their mobile phone. Users can switch live calls between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered can be redirected to a Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls get extended to different endpoints.

Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration offers an automated platform for initial installs and for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface delivers a single view of a user and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration significantly accelerates company-wide installations and minimizes the effort required for future updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics that show application adoption and consumption rates, allowing administrators to optimize IT resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco Unified Communications deployments to connect with other networks and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways deliver UC services for a broad range of gateway and session-border-control applications.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gatekeeper that enables organizations to allow workers, vendors, customers and prospects, or business partners who are working on different networks, workgroup platforms, or endpoint equipment to access to Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works with an enterprise Cisco Communications Manager deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to make productive collaboration more universal. Important features of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Remote workers with any Jabber-supported desktop or handheld computer or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) and of TLS security and are able to connect to all their collaboration applications (high-definition video, high-quality voice, content IM, and realtime presence) without requiring the inconvenience establishing a VPN. In addition, teleworkers have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, delivering a user environment at home that is identical to the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is required for supporting Cisco's Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your organization simply and safely through streamlined browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Cisco Expressway offers a world-class, scalable conferencing environment that seamlessly integrates high-quality voice, video, and data sharing to anyone, at any location, on any device.
• Interoperability: In case your company currently has third-party video products, Cisco Expressway can help you to move efficiently to a Cisco solution when you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or SIP systems. Internetworking capabilities supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol, and Microsoft Lync H.264 SVC to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for SIP-media-connected audio conferencing
• Voice and Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response applications
• Policy-led evaluation of phone calls
• Business-to-business telepresence over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is an early VoIP gateway solution for small organizations. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, firewall, and wireless functionality, work with older generation Cisco VoIP endpoints, and support various PSTN interfaces.

All UC500 packages include a desktop switch with 8 PoE ports and additional FXS and foreign exchange office (FXO) interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Built-in WiFi is optional. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 offering also includes software licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 users and incorporate 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 package supports 24 to 32 users and has 8 foreign exchange office interfaces. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or plan and implement an efficient migration to a modern VoIP solution like the Cisco 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 onsite access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration expert to help you to plan, deploy, administer and troubleshoot converged communications environments based on Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have extensive experience with Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, IP voice and video phones and other endpoints, UC applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, communication gateways, tools built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also provide support for related technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 gateways, CAC, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration experts can also help you to build SIP connectivity solutions that include SIP-based IP voice phones and media endpoints, SIP trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools via CUCM.

Progent's application programmers can build specialized IP telephony applications that will help your organization to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for enhanced productivity. Progent can revue your current network and Internet connectivity architecture to make sure your system is optimized to accommodate high-quality Voice over IP and HD video, help you to select and install Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your current needs and future growth objectives, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications products with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can show you how to create, deploy, and validate an enterprise-wide security strategy for your converged communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can assist you to deploy Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for affordable call control redundancy in branch office and home-office environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning experts can help you create a viable DR/BC strategy to protect your crucial unified communications environment.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Services
Versions of Unified CM before 8.6 and every release of CallManager have reached end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will cease to enhance, repair, or validate this older software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in certain situations may create compliance or even potential liability issues.

Progent will continue to offer premier support services for outdated versions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but in case you are now running a legacy version of this critical application you should start now to plan your upgrade. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can help your company to migrate smoothly to the current version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can typically save customers up to 50% off consulting costs compared to competing computer service firms thanks to Progent's documented process and experience in this practice area. By adhering to leading practices, Progent can make sure your business realizes a quick payback on your investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the enhanced feature set, lower management and maintenance costs, more productive collaboration, and tighter data protection offered by the newest edition of Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI analysis, project management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other vendors, mobile integration, data protection consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network architecture design, training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together fixed-priced migration packages to make sure your costs are visible and under control.

To see more details about Progent's engineering support for Cisco networking products, choose a subject:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Support
• Fast and Affordable Online Help from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower Services: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Management Help
• Cisco PIX 500 Firewall Maintenance Assistance
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Services
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Engineering Services
• Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points System Design Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Experts
• Cisco Meraki Wireless APs Engineering Services
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Consulting and Support Services
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Meraki MS Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco VPN Consulting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design Solutions for Cisco-based Datacenters
• Infrastructure Design Expertise for ISPs
• Centralized Management Technologies for Cisco-powered Environments