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Sending live voice and video over Internet Protocol has advanced from simply being being a smart means to save money on phone carrier bills to a required tool for collaboration and worker productivity. Converged communications, once restricted to combining Internet-based voice and faxes on one network platform in order to replace traditional PBX equipment, now encompasses voice and video, mobility, IM, real-time presence, services, and more all within a centralized framework that is manageable, extensible, secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the leader in providing solutions for supporting the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the efficiency of information networks by cutting operational expenses; integrating rich media functions with popular software applications to improve worker output; supporting teamwork among workers, associates, and suppliers to save time and enhance business results; and streamlining the management of your communications environment.

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

• Call Control Agents for controlling calls and sessions
• IP Phones and Softphones to enhance worker engagement
• UC Applications for more productive access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for connecting to outside networks and telecommuters

Call Control Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
The call-processing agent is the core of the Cisco IP Communications system and provides the flexibility to deploy a central call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a combination of both. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise telephony features to packet telephony devices such as VoIP handsets, media management products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications across the network. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports extra multimedia functions such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The latest release of Unified Communications Manager, formerly named Cisco CallManager, includes a wealth of enhancements that accelerate ROI by cutting management and maintenance costs, increasing user productivity, facilitating collaboration, accommodating the bring-your-own-device style of working, strengthening data protection, and making optimal use of network resources. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate management, extended support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for managers and users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile connectivity with no need for VPN, a new self-provisioning interface that makes it simple for users to manage their options for all of their endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.

When you deploy a central Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for customers at remote sites, administrators can help achieve non-stop phone availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), an IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN connection breaks, Cisco SRST in the Cisco router offers basic UC Manager capabilities until the link is returned. To learn about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not need the complete functionality available from Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly known as CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly solution that handles the requirements of sites with up to 450 users. Since Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is built into the Cisco IOS Software running on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can quickly implement a converged voice/data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a line of all-in-one platforms that offer fundamental unified communications features including routing, gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, IM and presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, enabling any end user to connect on any endpoint from any place. All solutions come packaged preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and UC applications software, making deployment quick and simple and cutting operating expenses for organizations with as many as 1000 employees. All BE6000 versions are shipped preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications. Organizations can simply enable UC applications when their requirements evolve.

The office-in-a-box BE6000S includes five preselected unified communications software applications preloaded on one integrated ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized blade server device and supports a maximum capacity of 150 users and 300 devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M includes four UC software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end Business Edition 6000H includes 8 unified communications software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and supports up to 1000 users, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more information about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, visit Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager planning, integration, upgrades and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Media Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user instrument, and can be a hardware handset or a software phone application that runs on a PC or mobile computer. In the Internet Protocol environment, each VoIP endpoint has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the features that a conventional telephone provides, but IP phones often provide extra features such as being able to access websites or host collaboration applications.

In contrast to ordinary PBX technology, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can implement virtually instantaneous relocations, additions, and changes. You merely take the IP phone to your new location, attach it to the Ethernet connection, and the device announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and configurations are automatically replicated, eliminating the expense and hassle of dispatching support personnel to wiring closets. Another helpful capability is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco IP device and get your personal phone ID and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide range of collaboration hardware endpoints. Cisco's entry-level SPA 300 family are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phones that feature high-quality voice, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP PBX, simple deployment and secure remote installation, in-service software upgrades, and web-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a single-line VoIP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has one Ethernet port, and a corded handset without keys. The SPA302D, designed exclusively for use with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiple-line cordless DECT IP phone that offers 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color display, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an affordable three-line SIP-based IP phone with dual switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speakerphone.

Cisco's SPA500 line IP phones are low-cost devices that support SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G IP Phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no hi-res screen. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no soft keys and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, 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 designed for infrequent-use environments like cafeterias, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 mono non-backlit screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint without a display and requires a hook switch for call transfer or joining a conference.

The 7800 line of value-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop devices featuring backlit monochrome screens, four programmable keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet switch with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and an integral speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 family feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a best-in-class audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the higher end 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone intended for common areas as well as for employees with occasional-to-light voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line VoIP phone with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 display and is the only device in the 7800 series that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line device targeted for administrative staff, call center personnel, and supervisors who have heavy call needs.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media devices with a 320 x 240 color screen, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet, 10 dedicated 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 VoIP phones include a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line IP voice and video phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a family of SIP-only IP phones 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 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four programmable buttons and 12 dedicated buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a monochrome screen 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, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color display and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 Power over Ethernet, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, dual USB ports with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable 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 handsets intended for professionals who are on the move within office, warehouse, health-care or other environments where management wants portable phones that offer more control, security and ruggedness than is achievable with the Bring-Your-Own-Device mode of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide on-the-move onsite workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN communications in environments that support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. The 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone features a 2.4 inch color screen, a rugged shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth radio for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for potentially combustible work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also has a case made of yellow plastics, which makes it easier to find during a crisis. Learn about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting consultants.

Cisco's legacy 9900 family of high-performance VoIP phones combine high-definition voice with high-resolution color video to deliver a productive multimedia UC experience for managers and executives. Both IP phones in the 9900 family include a Standard Definition 24-bit color display, a Bluetooth transceiver to support a broad choice of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise power-save function is optional and can cut off-hour energy draw by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated Wi-Fi transceiver for connecting to voice-over-wireless LAN environments, and four soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC functions. The 9971 IP phone allows up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP phone, video, and other UC applications are independent from the call-processing and voice-processing mechanism, and they may reside at any location within the system. A single network infrastructure offers an open environment for feature-rich applications and serves as a solid basis for future convergence-based applications. Cisco works with third-party technology vendors to offer a wide range of IP voice and IP video applications and products. Cisco also enables the capability to create and administer specialized in-house applications.

Unified Communications application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a converge media client application that provides presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, video, voicemail, screen sharing, and real-time conferencing functions for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, tablets as well as smartphones. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and WebEx Connect, with important enhancements in the areas of HD video features and screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration environment to more operating systems and devices. Cisco Jabber operates in conjunction with Unified Communications Manager for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Because Jabber is based on key industry protocols, it can interoperate with a wide selection of third-party platforms. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol enables Cisco Jabber to exchange IM and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac OS, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber collaboration features are available from Microsoft Office programs including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This broad platform compatibility maximizes productivity by delivering a common end-user experience and fully enabling the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent can provide the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint application developers who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration products. Progent also can provide help with iPhone integration and Android smartphone integration and management to assist you to enhance the productivity of your BYOD ecosystem.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides web and video conferencing for participants using a web browser or virtually any desktop or mobile device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and scale, streamlines administration, avoids heavy up-front investment, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-class data protection, and provides fast performance. Key features include the ability to share specific content or your whole screen with remote participants in real time, the capability to add multimedia into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, network-based recording plus playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and support for Cisco collaboration products such as Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted access with tight policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs and allows mobile workers to initiate, schedule, and participate in conferences on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. You can also launch web meetings instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a variety of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Products for On-premises Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who want to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud solution for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-definition teleconferencing for attendees with almost any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to deliver multiparty telepresence to UC environments and can extend meetings to include cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of the way conferencing bandwidth and features should be rationed for each attendee, allowing managers to specify the exact service level and user experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video conference presentations for live distribution and on-demand viewing.

Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail and Automated Attendant
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a converged voicemail platform that promotes teamwork by providing flexible set of alternatives for retrieving voice messages within an environment that is easy to deploy and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection lets you access and manage your voice messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, an iPhone or other smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also offers advanced speech-recognition features for hands-free operation and extensive Automated Attendant functions that include intelligent routing for inbound phone calls and custom call-screening and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection platform operates as a virtual machine that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade service module and can accommodate up to 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco ISR routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprise satellite locations with as many as 500 workers. Unity Express allows you to access and manage voicemail using a Cisco IP Phone display, your web browser, or an email client. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is available as a network module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide certified consulting and troubleshooting services for ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) works with Cisco Unified CM and desktop agent applications such as Finesse to offer automatic call distribution capabilities that allow an organization to match customers with the appropriate sales or support person. Unified CCE provides intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), multiple channel customer contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the deployment and administration 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.

Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) offers an out-of-the-box solution for building a customer contact center for branch or midmarket systems that support as many as 400 agents. Several packages are offered, as well as a selection of optional enhancements. Unified Contact Center Express works with Cisco CUCM and offers smart call distribution, contact interaction management, reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, web chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that needs no client software setup. Advanced options include conditional routing, expected-wait-time announcements, and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach (SNR), makes it possible for users to be reached via one number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer active calls between their desktop IP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Cisco Unity Connection account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls are directed to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration offers an automated platform for first-time deployments as well as for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface provides a single view of a user and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly speeds up company-wide installations and reduces the effort required for future changes. Prime Collaboration in addition provides management analytics including application adoption and consumption rates, enabling administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco converged communications deployments to connect with public systems and with clients working outside the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways provide unified communications services for a wide variety of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

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

Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gateway that enables companies to allow colleagues, suppliers, customers and prospects, or partners who are using various outside network environments, workgroup platforms, or endpoint devices to connect to Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway gateway works with a Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco HCS to help make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important capabilities of Expressway are include:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Remote users with any Jabber-compatible device or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of single-sign-on as well as TLS security and can connect to all their collaboration workloads (video, voice, rich content IM, and presence) without the extra step of establishing a VPN connection. In addition, teleworkers have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user environment at home identical to the corporate office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is critical for enabling Cisco's Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your business simply and safely through lightweight web-browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Cisco Expressway can function as a gateway that creates a path between onsite Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By offering support for Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Expressway offers an advanced, extensible meeting environment that transparently combines business-quality voice, high-definition video, and content sharing to any client, at any location, using any device.
• Interoperability: In case your company already has non-Cisco video systems, Cisco Expressway can assist you to migrate easily to a Cisco solution whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) environments. Interoperability capabilities allowed by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 SVC to MPEG-4/H.264 AVC.

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

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an early VoIP and unified communications system for small businesses. UC500 models provide voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, run with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support public switched telephone network interfaces.

All of UC500 packages include a compact switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional FXS and foreign exchange office (FXO) ports, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is an option. VoIP user capacity can be expanded by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Each UC500 offering also includes licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and include 4 FXS and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 clients and has 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 system supports 48 users and 12 FXO interfaces.

Progent's seasoned VoIP consultants can help you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and carry out a smooth upgrade to a modern IP telephony and voicemail solution such as the Cisco Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide remote or on-premises access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration specialist to help your business to plan, deploy, administer and troubleshoot converged communications environments supported by Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth experience integrating Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and soft phones, UC applications like Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP integration consultants can also help you to build SIP infrastructure environments that incorporate SIP-based VoIP phones and video endpoints, SIP trunks, and SIP administration tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's custom application programmers can create specialized unified communications software that will enable your business to incorporate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for increased efficiency. Progent can analyze your current network and Internet access architecture to determine whether your environment is configured to accommodate business-quality VoIP and high-definition video, assist you to choose and install Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your current situation and downstream growth objectives, and integrate your Cisco collaborative communications products with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security and compliance consultants can show you how to create, implement, and test a comprehensive security strategy for your converged communications solution. Also, Progent can help your organization to deploy Cisco high-availability mechanisms such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) to provide cost-effective call control redundancy in remote-branch and home-office environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning experts can help you develop a sensible DR/BC strategy to ensure the availability of your vital communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified CM earlier than 8.6 and all releases of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will cease to develop, fix, or validate the product software. Security updates for this pivotal application will end, which in certain situations could create regulatory compliance or potential liability problems.

Progent will continue to provide expert support services for end-of-life versions of Cisco Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if your business is now running an out-of-dated edition of this essential software your organization should begin immediately to plan your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can assist you to migrate efficiently to the latest release of Cisco Unified CM and can often save clients as much as 50% off consulting costs versus most computer service companies thanks to Progent's documented procedures and experience in this practice area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can make sure your organization sees a quick return on your IT investment by showing you how to take full advantage of the enhanced feature set, reduced administrative and support costs, more engaging collaboration, and stronger data protection provided by the latest edition of Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include ROI assessment, project management, pilot testing, Cloud integration, configuring endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party vendors, mobile integration, data protection consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery planning, network infrastructure design, training, and ongoing consulting services and technical support. Progent also has put together ultra-affordable migration service bundles to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.

To find out additional details about Progent's engineering support for Cisco solutions, choose a subject:

• Introduction to Cisco Support
• Fast and Affordable Remote Assistance from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewalls: Integration and Management Support
• ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower: Integration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Firewalls Upgrade. Migration Help
• Cisco PIX Firewall Consulting Help
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Support
• Cisco Aironet APs Engineering Help
• Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points System Design Help
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Support Services
• Meraki Wireless Access Points Deployment Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Integration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Meraki Switches Support and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Setup and Troubleshooting Services
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Network Design Services for Internet Service Providers
• Streamlined Network Management Strategies for Cisco-based Infrastructure