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Sending real-time voice and video over Internet Protocol has evolved from simply being being a shrewd way to reduce phone bills to being an indispensable technology for competitive advantage. Unified IP communications, once limited to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single system to take the place of expensive PBX equipment, now incorporates voice and video, mobile communications, messaging, real-time presence, collaboration services, and more all in a cohesive environment that is manageable, extensible, highly secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and intuitive.

Cisco is the market leader in supplying the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications product line enhances the productivity of IT networks by slashing operational costs; integrating rich media functions with familiar software programs to improve user output; supporting teamwork among employees, associates, and suppliers to save effort and enhance business results; and simplifying the management of your communications environment.

Cisco's Unified Communications technology include these important product categories:,

• Call Control Platforms for controlling rich media calls and sessions
• VoIP and Video Endpoints to optimize end-user productivity
• Unified Communications Software Applications for easy access to presence, IM, voice and video, voice messages, white boarding, and voice/video conferencing
• IP Gateways for providing connectivity with outside networks and telecommuters

Call Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the heart of the Cisco IP Communications solution and provides the versatility to deploy a central call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized approach, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony capabilities to packet devices such as VoIP phones, media management products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications throughout the network. Unified Communications Manager enables additional voice, video, and data services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based customer communication networks.

The most recent release of Unified Communications Manager, previously branded Cisco CallManager, includes a variety of improvements that accelerate ROI by cutting management and maintenance costs, improving user output, facilitating collaboration, accommodating the BYOD style of computing, fortifying security, and allowing efficient use of IT resources. Headline new features include automatic dial-plan replication, streamlined certificate control, extended support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, device-independent call recording, on-the-road connectivity with no need for VPN, a revamped self-provisioning utility that makes it easy for workers to install their options and preferences for all of their devices, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.

In cases where you deploy a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for customers at distributed sites, administrators can help ensure continuous call availability using Cisco SRST, a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network connection breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the router provides core Cisco UC Manager services until the link is restored. For information about Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, see consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not need the complete feature set available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly PBX alternative that handles the needs of sites with as many as 450 workers. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller organizations can quickly deploy a unified voice and data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a family of complete solutions that offer fundamental unified communications features such as routing, gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, IM and presence, conferencing, and paging support, allowing any end user to connect on any endpoint device from any place. All versions are shipped preinstalled with virtualization and collaboration applications, making implementation quick and simple and reducing cost of ownership for organizations with from 25 to 1000 workers. All BE6000 solutions come preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications. You can simply activate UC applications when their needs grow.

The office-in-a-box Business Edition 6000S supports five preselected collaboration software applications installed on one combination 2921V ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server device and can handle as many as 150 workers and 300 devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M supports four UC software application options enabled on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and supports as many as 1000 workers, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line Business Edition 6000H Supports eight collaboration software application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server and supports as many as 1000 users, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager (CallManager), see Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and CallManager design, integration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is an end-user device, either a hardware phone set or a software phone application on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP world, every VoIP phone has an Ethernet connection. IP phones have all of the functions that an ordinary phone handset provides, but IP phones can also have additional features such as being able to access websites or run business software.

Unlike conventional Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP communications network you can implement virtually instant moves, adds, and changes. You simply take the VoIP phone to your new spot, plug it into an Ethernet jack, and the phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and configurations are programmatically re-established, doing away with the cost and delay of dispatching technicians to rewire connections. Another efficient feature is extension mobility, which enables you to log into any Cisco IP phone and receive your personal phone ID and privileges.

Cisco offers a wide range of VoIP hardware endpoints. Cisco's low-cost Small Business SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and DECT devices offering wide-band audio, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol telephony environments or an IP private branch exchange, simple deployment and highly secure remote installation, in-service software upgrades, and browser-based configuration. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line IP endpoint with no display or speakerphone, a base dialer that has a single Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for use with the Cisco SPA232D DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiline cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications handset that offers 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color display, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an entry-level three-line SIP-based IP phone with dual Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono graphical display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 Series VoIP phones are affordable endpoints with support for both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel monochrome screen display, The SPA501G IP Phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no hi-res screen. The SPA502G has a single line and has no programmable buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G has eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft keys. The SPA512G has four lines, no programmable keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and features five soft keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices designed for occasional-use settings like cafeterias, elevators, and conference facilities. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono display, an integrated Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device with no display and requires a hook switch for call transfer and joining a conference.

The 7800 family of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP desktop endpoints featuring backlit mono displays, four soft buttons, 11 dedicated buttons, an integral Ethernet port with Class 1 Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. The 7800 Series support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in the 7800 family feature the same high-fidelity 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 advanced 7800 models, cuts after-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line phone designed for common areas as well as for employees with occasional-to-light call requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an extra-cost 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 phone with a 396 x 162 display and is the only model in the 7800 family to support Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device intended for administrative staff, contact center personnel, and supervisors who have significant voice communications needs.

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

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

Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are hardened wireless handsets designed for professionals who are mobile within campus, hospitality, retail or other venues where management requires portable phones that offer more control, data security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD mode of mobile collaboration. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones offer on-the-move on-premises workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi. The 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color display, a rugged case designed for shock resistance and compliant with IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a built-in speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth transceiver to support wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds anti-sparking protection for use in potentially combustible work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also has a shell fabricated out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to find during an emergency. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration and troubleshooting consulting.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of powerful VoIP phones integrate high-quality voice with high-resolution color video to provide a productive collaborative UC experience for knowledge professionals and executives. Both IP phones in the 9900 line have an SD 24-bit color display, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to work with a wide range of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch. Cisco's Power Save function is offered as an option and can reduce off-work power consumption by up to 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 feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and four programmable touchscreen keys to access Cisco Unified Communications features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, 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 framework provides a versatile environment for powerful applications and provides a solid basis for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with leading technology vendors to provide a wide range of IP phone and IP video applications and products. Cisco also enables the ability to develop and manage customized internal programs.

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

Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications application that provides presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voicemail, screen sharing, and online conferencing functions for PCs, Apple Macs, Apple and Android tablets plus smartphones. Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major improvements in the areas of video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration environment to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Jabber operates with Cisco Unified CM for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for instant messaging and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and automated attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing.

Because Cisco Jabber utilizes key industry protocols, it can interoperate with a broad range of non-Cisco platforms. For example, XMPP enables Jabber to exchange IM and presence information with a variety of XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber features can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This broad platform support maximizes productivity by providing a common user environment and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent offers the expertise of certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint experts who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also can provide expertise with Apple iPhone and iPad integration and Google Android phone integration and management to help you to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

WebEX Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web meetings for participants using a browser or virtually any desktop or mobile computer. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as software as a service through the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and scale, streamlines management, eliminates heavy initial investment, offers maximum uptime and enterprise-grade data protection, and provides consistently high performance. Important capabilities include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen with remote participants in real time, the ability to add rich media into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, session and content recording plus editing and playback for training, single sign-on and support for Cisco collaboration applications like Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted access with tight policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and allows mobile workers to initiate, calendarize, and participate in conferences on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. You can also launch web conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For midsize businesses and larger enterprises who want to build an on-premises or hybrid in-house/cloud solution for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that deliver high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for users with almost any IP endpoint at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to bring multiparty video, audio and content sharing to UC deployments and can extend conferences to incorporate cloud-based WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies management of the way conferencing resources are allocated for each attendee, allowing administrators to specify the precise service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video conference presentations for live streaming and video on demand (VOD) viewing.

Cisco's Unity Connection and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a unified voicemail system that facilitates productive collaboration by providing a variety of alternatives for accessing voice messages within a framework that is simple to implement and maintain. Unity Connection lets you read and manage voice messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated speech-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and powerful Automated Attendant features such as intelligent routing for inbound calls and custom call-screening and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system 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 as many as 20,000 mailboxes on each server.

Unity Express (CUE), offered in select Cisco ISR routers, provides affordable voicemail, integrated messaging, interactive voice response, and greeting functions for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and corporate branch locations with up to 500 workers. Unity Express allows you to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco IP Phone screen, a browser, or an email client. Cisco routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers certified configuration and support services for all Cisco routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates closely with Cisco CUCM and agent desktop applications such as Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to match customers with the right sales or service agent. Unified CCE offers intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), multichannel contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) and consolidated enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the creation and management of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco platforms supporting UCCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged bundle for creating a customer contact center for mid-scale deployments that support up to 400 agents. Several bundles are offered, plus a selection of special options. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express integrates closely with CUCM and offers intelligent call distribution, contact management, reporting, IVR, and the ability to manage voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express comes with Cisco Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client-side software setup. Optional enhancements include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time announcements, and workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach
Mobile Connect, commonly known as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be reached via one number that rings at the same time on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer active calls between their desktop VoIP phone and their cell phone seamlessly. Calls that are not answered can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create their own access lists that specify which calls get extended to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration offers an automated platform for first-time installs as well as for “day 2” moves, adds, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface delivers a unified view of a subscriber and the user's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially accelerates site rollouts and reduces the effort required to implement future updates. Prime Collaboration in addition provides advanced analytics including technology adoption and usage rates, enabling organizations to optimize resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications deployments to communicate with public networks and with users working beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's portfolio of gateways provide UC support for a broad range of gateway and session-border-control deployments.

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

Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced converged media gatekeeper that allows companies to allow team members, suppliers, consumers, or partners who are working on various outside network environments, collaboration platforms, or endpoint equipment to connect to Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works in conjunction with a Cisco CM system or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to help make productive collaboration more pervasive. Important features of Cisco Expressway include:

• Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Off-site workers with any Jabber-compatible client or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the benefit of single-sign-on (SSO) as well as TLS security and are able to connect to all their Jabber workloads (high-definition video, high-quality voice, rich content instant messaging, and presence) without the inconvenience a VPN. In addition, telecommuters have the ability to use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN, providing a user experience at home the same as the office.
• Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is required for supporting Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your organization simply and securely using streamlined browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Cisco Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between onsite Cisco or non-Cisco systems and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway offers a world-class, extensible conferencing experience that seamlessly combines business-quality voice, HD video, and data sharing to any client, anywhere, using any endpoint.
• Interoperability: In case your company already has third-party video systems, Expressway can assist you to migrate easily to a Cisco solution when it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Gateway capabilities supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 SVC to MPEG-4/H.264 AVC.

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

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway system for small businesses. UC500 models deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, security, and WiFi functionality, run with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network connections.

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

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can assist 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 Help You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or on-premises help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to assist you to design, install, manage and repair converged communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication products in an in-house, distributed, or hybrid deployment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth experience supporting Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, Voice over IP and video phones and soft phones, UC applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, communication gatekeepers, utilities built into Cisco Catalyst switches and routers. Progent can also provide support for technologies like Cisco SRST, CUBE, SIP gateways, CAC, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP integration experts can in addition assist you to create SIP connectivity environments that include SIP VoIP phones and media phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP management tools via CUCM.

Progent's application programmers can build specialized IP telephony software that will help your organization to incorporate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can audit your current network and Internet access architecture to make sure your system is configured to accommodate high-quality Voice over IP and high-definition video, help you to select and deploy Cisco products appropriate for your present situation and downstream growth strategy, and interface your Cisco Unified Communications products with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security and compliance consultants can assist you to create, deploy, and validate an enterprise-wide security strategy for your unified communications ecosystem. In addition, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) to provide cost-effective call control redundancy in remote-branch and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness experts can help you create a sensible DR/BC strategy to protect your business-critical unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Versions of Unified CM earlier than 8.6 and all releases of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will no longer enhance, repair, or validate the product software. Security updates for this pivotal application will stop, which in some situations could cause regulatory compliance or legal liability problems.

Progent continues to provide world-class consulting and support for outdated releases of Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if you are still using an out-of-dated version of this essential application your organization should start now to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can assist your company to migrate efficiently to the latest version of Cisco Unified CM and can often save clients up to 50% off consulting costs compared to competing computer service firms because of Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this practice area. By following best practices, Progent can make sure your company realizes a fast payback on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the new and improved feature set, lower administrative and maintenance expense, more engaging collaboration capabilities, and stronger data protection offered by the latest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include ROI assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and third-party vendors, smartphone and tablet connectivity, data protection services, management automation, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network topology design, staff and user training, and ongoing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also offers ultra-affordable migration packages to make sure your costs are predictable and affordable.

To find out more details concerning Progent's engineering help for Cisco solutions, pick a subject:

• Introduction to Cisco Support
• Fast Remote Help from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Integration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower Services: Consulting and Management Support
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Integration Expertise
• Cisco PIX Firewall Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Routers Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Expertise
• Aironet APs Engineering Services
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi Access Points Engineering Expertise
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Consultants
• Cisco Meraki Wireless APs Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Migration and Support Expertise
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco Nexus Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco Meraki Switches Configuration and Maintenance Services
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Setup and Troubleshooting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-based Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Infrastructure Optimization Consulting for Internet Service Providers
• Centralized Management Technologies for Cisco Environments