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Sending real-time voice and video over IP has advanced from simply being being a shrewd means to cut phone carrier bills to a strategic tool for collaboration and productivity. Converged communications, at one time limited to managing Internet-based voice calls and faxing on one system to take the place of expensive PBX equipment, today incorporates rich media, mobile communications, messaging, presence, collaboration services, and much more all within a centralized ecosystem that is manageable, extensible, highly secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the market leader in providing solutions required to support the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications solution enhances the productivity of IT networks by cutting operational expenses; integrating multiple collaboration features with familiar software applications to improve worker output; facilitating teamwork among employees, partners, and suppliers to save time and enhance business outcomes; and streamlining the administration of your converged voice and data environment.

Cisco's Unified Communications technology include these primary product areas:,

• Call Control Agents for controlling calls and sessions
• Collaboration Endpoints to optimize worker productivity
• UC Applications for easy access to presence, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for connecting to outside networks and remote users

Call Control Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the core of Cisco's IP collaboration system and gives you the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony features to packet telephony devices such as IP phones, media processing products, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia programs throughout the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager supports extra multimedia services such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and collaborative customer interaction networks.

The most recent release of Unified Communications Manager, formerly branded CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that speed up ROI by lowering management and maintenance costs, improving user productivity, facilitating collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device model of computing, elevating security, and allowing efficient utilization of network resources. Top innovations include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), streamlined certificate management, expanded support for single sign-on for administrators and users, hardware-independent call recording, on-the-road access without the need for VPN, a revamped self-care utility that makes it easy for users to install their options for all of their endpoint devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

When you deploy a central Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for customers at distributed sites, IT managers can help ensure non-stop phone operation using Cisco SRST, an IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network connection fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the Cisco router offers basic UC Manager services until the connection is repaired. For information about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small businesses, branch offices, and retail environments that do not require the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly PBX alternative that meets the requirements of sites with up to 450 users. Since Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the IOS Software operating on a Cisco router, smaller offices can quickly implement a unified voice and data solution.

Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a line of all-in-one solutions that offer fundamental collaboration capabilities such as routing, gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, instant messaging and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging support, enabling any user to connect on any endpoint from any location. All versions are delivered preloaded with virtualization and collaboration applications software, making implementation fast and easy and cutting cost of ownership for companies with from 25 to 1000 employees. All versions are shipped preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications. Organizations can instantly enable UC applications when their needs grow.

The entry-level BE6000S includes five preselected collaboration software applications preloaded on a single combination router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server device and can handle a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M supports four collaboration application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line BE6000S Supports 8 collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and has the ability to support as many as 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), visit Unified Communications Manager and CallManager planning, integration, migration and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is a user instrument, and can be a physical handset or a soft phone program on a PC or handheld computer. In the IP environment, each IP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. VoIP phones have all of the features that an analog telephone provides, but Voice over IP phones often have additional features such as being able to connect to websites or run business applications.

Unlike traditional Private Branch Exchange systems, in a Cisco IP telephony network you can perform virtually instant moves, adds, and modifications. You merely move the IP phone to your new spot, plug it into the Ethernet jack, and the handset 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 helpful feature is location independence, which allows you to log into any Cisco VoIP device and receive your personal phone extension and privileges.

Cisco offers a broad range of collaboration handsets. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome phones that feature wide-band voice, compatibility with hosted IP telephony environments or an IP private branch exchange, simple deployment and secure online installation, zero-downtime software upgrades, and web-based configuration. The low-end SPA301 is a single-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has a single Ethernet connector, and a corded handset with no keys. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiple-line wireless DECT handset that supports 10-lines, a 176 x 220 pixel color display, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an entry-level 3-line IP phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 monochrome graphical display and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 family IP phones are affordable devices with support for both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 monochrome screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no LCD display. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no programmable buttons. The SPA504G has four lines and has four soft buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no programmable buttons and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 pixel color display, supports five lines, and features five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices intended for infrequent-use environments such as cafeterias, elevators, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel monochrome screen, an integrated Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line endpoint without a screen and uses a hook switch for call transfer or joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 line of economical IP phones are VoIP endpoints featuring backlit mono screens, four programmable buttons, 11 dedicated buttons, an integral Ethernet port with PoE, and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in the 7800 family feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a state-of-the-art audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, available on the advanced 7800 units, cuts off-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line phone intended for shared areas as well as for workers with infrequent voice communications needs. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP 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 family to support Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line device targeted for administrators, contact center personnel, and supervisors who have heavy call needs.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP media endpoints with a 320 x 240 color display, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both IP phones include a 5-inch screen and four programmable buttons. 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 buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a line of SIP-based endpoints that features desktop units, a conference IP phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 fixed-feature keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a monochrome display and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8841 features a WVGA color display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color display and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi devices intended for workers who are on the move within campus, warehouse, retail or other venues where management wants portable phones that offer more administrative control, security and durability than is possible with the Bring-Your-Own-Device style of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide on-the-move on-premises users the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces with 802.11x Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a hi-res color screen, a rugged case designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for particulate and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth transceiver for hands-free operation with cordless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for hazardous environments. The 8821-EX also features a case made out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easy to find during a crisis. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration support.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 family of high-performance IP phones mix high-definition voice with business-grade color screens to provide a productive multimedia experience for knowledge professionals and executives. Both models in this line have an SD 640x480 pixel color display, a Bluetooth transceiver to work with a wide choice of headsets, and an integrated Gigabit Ethernet port. The Cisco EnergyWise power-save function is offered as an option and can lower off-work energy consumption by 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated Wi-Fi radio for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN networks, and 4 soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 supports up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Within Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP phone, IP video, and other UC applications are independent from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may reside at any location within the network. A single connectivity infrastructure offers a versatile platform for feature-rich business applications and acts as a firm basis for future convergence-based software. Cisco works with leading technology vendors to provide a wide selection of IP phone and IP video software applications and products. Cisco also enables the capability to develop and administer customized internal programs.

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

Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a converge media client application that supports presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and online conferencing functions for Windows PCs, Macs, Apple and Android tablets and iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with significant enhancements in the areas of HD video features and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration environment to more platforms and devices. Cisco Jabber operates in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber utilizes popular communication standards, it can interoperate with a broad range of non-Cisco products. For instance, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol allows Cisco Jabber to exchange IM and presence data with a variety of XMPP clients including as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This extensive platform support optimizes productivity by providing a common user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device model of computing. Progent offers the expertise of certified Exchange consultants and SharePoint application developers who can show you how to integrate Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also offers expertise with Apple iPhone and iPad integration as well as Android phone integration to assist your organization to enhance the business value of your BYOD environment.

WebEX Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center enables web meetings for participants using a web browser or virtually any desktop or mobile computer. WebEx Meeting Center is offered as software as a service through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to deploy and scale, streamlines administration, eliminates high up-front expenditures, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-class data protection, and delivers fast throughput. Key features include the ability to share discrete content or an whole screen display with remote attendees in real time, the capability to add multimedia into your presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, session and content recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on and support for other Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and notebooks and permits mobile workers to launch, calendarize, and participate in conferences on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For midsize organizations and larger enterprises who want to create an in-house or hybrid on-premises/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that enable high-quality and standards-based teleconferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty telepresence to converged environments and can extend meetings to support cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines management of how video conferencing bandwidth and features are allocated for every individual participant, allowing managers to specify the precise service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video conference presentations for real-time streaming and video on demand (VOD) playback.

Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail and Automated Attendant
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voicemail solution that promotes productive collaboration by offering a variety of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within an environment that is simple to implement and administer. Unity Connection lets you read and manage your voice messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, an iPhone or other smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition capabilities for hands-free management and powerful Automated Attendant features that include smart routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-alert settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system operates as a VM that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade and can support as many as 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Unity Express (CUE), offered in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and greeting services for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise satellite locations with up to 500 voice mailboxes. Unity Express permits users to manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone display, your web browser, or your email system. Integrated Services Routers for which Cisco Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent offers certified consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates closely with Cisco Unified CM and desktop agent apps like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to match customers with the proper sales or support person. UCCE provides intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel contact management, call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and consolidated company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco products supporting UCCE's customer interaction management solution include Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) offers a packaged solution for creating a customer interaction management center for mid-scale systems that handle as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a variety of optional enhancements. Unified CCX integrates with CUCM and provides smart call routing, contact 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 browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client-side software setup. Optional enhancements include conditional routing, estimated-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 phone number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can switch active conversations between their Cisco VoIP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered can be transferred to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection account. Users can create personal access lists that specify which calls get extended to alternate phones.

Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration provides an automated platform for initial installs and for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console provides a unified view of a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration substantially speeds up company-wide rollouts and reduces the time required to implement future updates. Prime Collaboration in addition provides advanced analytics including application adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications deployments to connect with other networks and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways provide UC support for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

Communications gateways offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gatekeeper that allows organizations to provide colleagues, vendors, consumers, or partners who are using various outside network environments, workgroup applications, or endpoint equipment to connect to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-supported client or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on (SSO) and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to connect to all their collaboration workloads (video, high-quality voice, content IM, and realtime presence) without requiring the extra step of establishing a VPN connection. In addition, teleworkers can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN tunnel, delivering a user environment at home the same as the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is required for supporting Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to communicate with your business easily and safely via streamlined web-browser and mobile video phone calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or third-party collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver a world-class, scalable teleconferencing environment that seamlessly integrates voice, HD video, and data sharing to any client, at any location, on any device.
• Interoperability: In case your organization already has non-Cisco video products, Expressway can assist you to move easily to Cisco products when you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or SIP environments. Internetworking capabilities supported by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync H.264 SVC to H.264/AVC.

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

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) product line is a VoIP communications appliance and software package for small organizations. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, security, and wireless capabilities, run with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

All UC500 series bundles include a compact switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interfaces plus additional FXS and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be increased by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Each UC500 offering also includes software licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and 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 interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system supports 32 clients and has 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 system allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and carry out a smooth migration to a modern VoIP solution such as Cisco's cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide online or onsite access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to assist your business to design, deploy, manage and troubleshoot unified communications environments supported by Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified engineers have extensive backgrounds integrating Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, IP voice and video phones and soft phones, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence products, communication gatekeepers, utilities built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and AVVID. Progent's SIP infrastructure consultants can in addition help you to build SIP connectivity environments that incorporate SIP IP voice phones and media endpoints, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's application developers can build specialized unified communications applications that will enable your organization to incorporate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for increased efficiency. Progent can evaluate your current network and Internet connectivity infrastructure to make sure your environment is optimized to accommodate business-quality IP voice and HD video, help you to select and deploy Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your current situation and downstream expansion goals, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security and compliance consultants can show you how to develop, implement, and test a comprehensive security and compliance plan for your converged communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can help your organization to configure Cisco fault-tolerant technologies such as Cisco Unified SRST to provide affordable call control backup in remote-branch and telecommuter sites, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness consultants can help you develop a sensible DR/BC plan to protect your business-critical unified communications system.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Versions of Cisco Unified CM lower than 8.6 and every release of CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer enhance, repair, or test the product software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in certain circumstances could cause compliance or even legal liability issues.

Progent continues to offer expert support for outdated editions of Cisco Unified CM and CallManager, but in case your business is still running a legacy release of this critical software your organization should begin now to plan your upgrade. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can help you to upgrade non-disruptively to the latest edition of Unified Communications Manager and can routinely save customers as much as 50% off consulting service expense versus most computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this area. By following leading practices, Progent can make sure your organization sees a quick payback on your investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the enhanced feature set, lower management and support expense, more productive collaboration, and tighter security provided by the latest edition of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI assessment, project management, pilot testing, Cloud connectivity, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other suppliers, smartphone and tablet integration, data protection consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, training, and continuing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable migration service bundles to make sure your costs are predictable and affordable.

To see additional details about Progent's consulting support for Cisco products, choose a topic:

• Overview of Progent's Cisco Support
• Fast Remote Support from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Engineer
• Cisco Firepower Series Firewalls: Configuration and Management Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewalls with Firepower: Setup and Troubleshooting Services
• ASA 5500 Firewalls Consulting Support
• Cisco PIX Series Firewall Consulting Assistance
• Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Services
• Cisco Aironet APs Consulting Expertise
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless APs System Design Help
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless Access Points Solution Design, Configuration and Debugging Expertise
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Consultants
• Meraki Access Points Consulting Support
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Deployment Services
• Meraki Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco VPN Consulting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunking and CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for an At-Home Workforce
• Design Solutions for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Data Center Design Services for Service Providers
• Unified Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Technologies for Cisco-based Environments