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Sending live voice and video over IP has advanced from simply being being a savvy means to reduce phone bills to being an indispensable tool for collaboration and worker productivity. Unified IP communications, once restricted to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single system in order to take the place of traditional PBX equipment, today includes voice and video, mobility, IM, presence, services, and more all within a centralized ecosystem that is easy to manage, extensible, highly secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and intuitive.

Cisco is the market leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the current model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the efficiency of IT systems by cutting operating costs; integrating rich media functions with familiar software applications to increase user output; facilitating collaboration among employees, partners, and vendors to save effort and enhance business results; and simplifying the administration of your communications ecosystem.

Cisco's Unified Communications technology address several main product categories:,

• Call Control Platforms for controlling calls and sessions
• Communications Phones and Softphones to optimize worker engagement
• Unified Communications Applications for simplified access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
• IP Gateways for providing connectivity with public networks and telecommuters

Call and Session Control Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco's call-processing agent is the heart of Cisco's IP collaboration portfolio infrastructure and provides the flexibility to implement a central call-processing design, a decentralized model, or a mix of the two. In a centralized approach, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends enterprise telephony features to packet telephony network devices such as VoIP phones, media management products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications throughout the network. Unified Communications Manager supports additional multimedia services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative client interaction networks.

The most recent version of Unified Communications Manager, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, offers a variety of enhancements that speed up your return on investment by cutting administrative and support expenses, increasing user output, enhancing collaboration, supporting the BYOD style of working, fortifying security, and allowing efficient use of network resources. Top innovations include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, streamlined certificate management, extended support for single sign-on for managers and end users, hardware-agnostic call recording, on-the-road connectivity with no need for VPN, a revamped self-care utility that makes it simple for workers to manage their options for all endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile users.

In cases where you implement a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for customers at distributed locations, IT managers can help achieve continuous phone availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN link fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony in the router offers core UC Manager capabilities until the link is restored. For information about Progent's consulting support for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting services for Cisco Integrated Services routers.

For small businesses, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not require the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, formerly named CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly solution that handles the needs of locations 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 router, smaller offices can quickly deploy a unified voice/data environment.

Cisco's BE6000 is a line of all-in-one solutions that provide fundamental collaboration capabilities including routing, IP gateway, high definition voice and video, messaging, IM and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, allowing any end user to connect on any device from any site. All versions come packaged preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications, making implementation fast and simple and cutting operating expenses for organizations with up to 1000 employees. All BE6000 systems are delivered preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications. You can instantly enable Unified Communications software applications when their requirements grow.

The office-in-a-box Business Edition 6000S supports five standard UC software applications preloaded on one combination ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server platform and can handle up to 150 users and 300 devices. The medium-scale BE6000M includes four unified communications software application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end BE6000S Supports eight UC application options activated on a single virtualized C220 M4 server and can handle up to 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For additional information about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, visit Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager planning, configuration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
A communications endpoint is a user instrument, either a hardware phone or a software phone program that runs on a desktop or handheld computer. In the IP environment, every VoIP endpoint has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones offer all of the features that a conventional phone has, but Voice over IP phones often provide additional features including the ability to access the web or run collaboration applications.

Unlike traditional Private Branch Exchange systems, in a Cisco IP communications environment you can implement almost instantaneous relocations, adds, and changes. You simply take the VoIP handset to its new location, plug it into the Ethernet jack, and the IP phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and settings are automatically re-established, doing away with the expense and delay of dispatching technicians to rewire connections. An additional efficient capability is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP device and get your own phone number and privileges.

Cisco provides a broad range of collaboration hardware endpoints. The low-cost SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome phones that feature high-quality audio, support for hosted Internet Protocol phone environments or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy deployment and safe remote installation, unobtrusive software upgrades, and browser-based set up. The value-priced SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for operation with Cisco's SPA232D DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiple-line wireless DECT IP phone that offers 10-lines, a 176 x 220 color screen, and a keypad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an affordable three-line SIP-based phone with two switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speakerphone.

The SPA500 Series IP phones are affordable endpoints with support for SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and voice conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 mono screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no hi-res screen. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no programmable keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four soft buttons. The SPA508G has eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G VoIP phone supports four lines, no soft buttons and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has soft buttons, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 includes a 320 x 240 color screen, supports five lines, and features five programmable buttons.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints designed for occasional-use environments such as lobbies, elevators, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 mono display, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The bare-bones Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device with no screen and requires a hook switch for call transfer and joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 line of economical IP phones are VoIP devices featuring backlit mono screens, four soft buttons, 11 fixed-feature buttons, an integral Ethernet switch with PoE, and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 Series feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the higher end 7800 models, reduces off-hours energy usage by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line phone intended for shared areas and for employees with infrequent voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an extra-cost wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only unit in the 7800 series that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device targeted for administrators, contact center agents, and supervisors who have significant voice communications requirements.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 pixel color display, an integral 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 PoE, 10 fixed-feature keys and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G supports four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch display and four programmable keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line IP voice and video phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

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

Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are hardened wireless handsets intended for workers who are mobile within office, warehouse, health-care or other environments where IT management requires portable phones that offer more control, data security and durability than is possible with the BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide on-the-move onsite workers the advantages of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces with 802.11x Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color display, a rugged case rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, long-life batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver for hands-free operation with wireless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless IP Phone adds protection against sparking for hazardous work sites. The 8821-EX also features a shell fabricated out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to locate the event of a crisis. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting consultants.

Cisco's legacy 9900 family of powerful IP endpoints mix high-quality voice with high-resolution color screens to deliver a productive collaborative unified communications solution for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two IP phones in this line have an SD 24-bit color screen, a Bluetooth transceiver to support a broad range of headsets, and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise feature is offered as an option and can cut off-work energy use by as much as 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for deployment with Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) networks, and four soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 supports up to 3 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Application Software
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP telephony, IP video, and other converged applications are physically independent from the call-processing and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside at any location within the system. A single network infrastructure offers an open environment for powerful applications and serves as a firm basis for downstream convergence-based applications. Cisco cooperates with leading technology vendors to offer a wide range of IP voice and video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to develop and administer specialized in-house applications.

Collaborative application software available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Cisco Jabber
Jabber is a UC application that supports presence, IM, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing functions for Windows PCs, Macs, iPads and Android tablets and smartphones. Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with important improvements in the areas of HD video features and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team environment to additional operating systems and endpoint hardware. Jabber works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager for call control, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber is based on popular industry protocols, it can interoperate with a wide selection of third-party platforms. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) allows Jabber users to exchange IM and presence information with various XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Cisco Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs including Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This extensive platform support optimizes output by providing a common user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of computing. Progent offers the assistance of certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint programmers who can show you how to use Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also offers expertise with iPhone and iPad integration as well as Google Android phone integration to help your organization to increase the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.

WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center enables online meetings for participants using a web browser or virtually any desktop or handheld device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is offered as SaaS via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to deploy and scale, reduces the cost of management, eliminates heavy up-front investment, offers maximum uptime and world-class data protection, and provides fast performance. Important capabilities include the ability to share discrete content or your entire screen display with online participants in real time, the ability to add rich media into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, network-based recording plus playback for training, single sign-on and integration with Cisco collaboration products such as Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted access with strict policy management.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and permits mobile users to start, schedule, and take part in conferences on Android devices, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also initiate web conferences instantly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a variety of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For midsize businesses and enterprises who want to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-definition video conferencing for attendees with virtually any IP endpoint at any site. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to deliver multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can extend conferences to incorporate cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of the way video conferencing bandwidth and features should be allocated for every individual participant, enabling managers to specify the exact service level and user experience required for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server captures video and presentations for live distribution and video on demand viewing.

Cisco Unity Connection and Unity Express for Converged Voice Messaging
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voicemail platform that promotes productive collaboration by offering flexible set of options for accessing voice messages within an environment that is easy to implement and manage. Unity Connection lets you access and manage voicemail from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP Phone, a smartphone, or a tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also provides advanced speech-recognition features for hands and eyes free management and extensive Automated Attendant capabilities that include intelligent routing for incoming phone calls and custom call-screening and message-notification settings. The Unity Connection platform operates as a VM that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router blade service module and can support up to 20,000 voice mailboxes on each server.

Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco ISR routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, IVR, and greeting services for small to mid-size businesses and corporate branch offices with up to 500 workers. Cisco Unity Express permits users to manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, a browser, or your email system. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is offered as an advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers certified deployment and troubleshooting services for ISR routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates with Cisco Unified CM and agent desktop applications such as Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the right salesperson or service representative. UCCE provides intelligent call routing, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel customer contact management, network-wide call queuing, interactive voice response and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the creation and administration of a large-scale contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's client contact management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX or CCX) offers a packaged bundle for creating a customer interaction management center for mid-scale deployments that support as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, as well as a selection of optional advanced features. Unified Contact Center Express integrates closely with CUCM and offers smart call routing, client management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media requests. Cisco Unified Contact Center Express includes Finesse, a web-based desktop agent that needs no client installation. Optional advanced features include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time announcements, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly referred to as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be reached via one number that rings simultaneously on their desktop IP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer active calls between their desktop VoIP phone and their cell phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be transferred to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls are extended to alternate endpoints.

Prime Collaboration
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning provides an automated platform for initial installs and for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console delivers a unified look at a user and the user's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially accelerates company-wide rollouts and minimizes the time required for ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition offers advanced analytics that show technology adoption and usage trends, allowing administrators to make more efficient use of IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's collaboration gateways permit Cisco converged communications environments to communicate with public networks and with clients operating outside the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways deliver unified communications services for a broad range of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

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

Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced converged media gateway that allows organizations to allow colleagues, vendors, customers, or business partners who are using various outside networks, collaboration platforms, or endpoint devices to connect to Cisco Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works in conjunction with a Cisco Communications Manager system or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be run via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to help make productive collaboration more universal. Important features of Cisco Expressway are:

• Mobile and Remote Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-supported device or teleworkers with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the benefit of single-sign-on (SSO) plus Transport Layer Security (TLS) and are able to access all their collaboration applications (video, voice, rich content instant messaging, and realtime presence) without the inconvenience establishing a VPN connection. Also, teleworkers can utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user experience at home the same as the office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for enabling Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to interact with your business simply and safely through lightweight browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between onsite Cisco or third-party systems and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Expressway deliver a world-class, scalable conferencing environment that seamlessly combines voice, HD video, and content sharing to any client, anywhere, on any endpoint.
• Interoperability: If your company already has third-party video products, Expressway can assist you to migrate efficiently to a Cisco solution whenever it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway offers video compatibility with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or SIP systems. Gateway capabilities supported 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 for SIP-media-connected conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• Enterprise Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) solutions
• Policy-led evaluation of phone calls
• Business-to-business immersive telepresence over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an all-in-one VoIP communications appliance and software package for small businesses. UC500 models provide voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, IP video, firewall, and WiFi capabilities, work with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support public switched telephone network (PSTN) interfaces.

All of Cisco's UC500 packages include a desktop switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports plus additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Integrated WiFi is optional. User capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 model also comes with software licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing as well as Cisco Unity Express software for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 package supports 8 to 16 VoIP users and incorporate 4 FXS and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 clients and has 8 foreign exchange office ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.

Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can help you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP system or plan and implement an efficient migration to a current VoIP solution such as the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Video Conferencing
Progent can provide remote or on-premises help from a certified CCIE Collaboration specialist to assist you to plan, implement, manage and troubleshoot unified communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication technology in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco engineers have extensive backgrounds with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, VoIP phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's teleconferencing products, communication gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with related technologies such as Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, SIP gateways, CAC, IP voice trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's AVVID architecture. Progent's SIP integration experts can also help you to create SIP connectivity environments that incorporate SIP VoIP phones and media phones, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's application programmers can build specialized unified communications software that will enable your business to integrate the telephony capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business operations for increased efficiency. Progent can analyze your existing network and Internet access infrastructure to determine whether your system is optimized to accommodate business-quality VoIP and HD video, help you to choose and integrate Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your present needs and future expansion plans, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified information security consultants can assist you to create, implement, and validate an enterprise-wide security and compliance strategy for your converged communications solution. In addition, Progent can assist you to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms such as Cisco Unified SRST for affordable call control redundancy in remote-branch and telecommuter sites, and Progent's disaster recovery preparedness consultants can help you develop a sensible DR/BC plan to ensure the availability of your crucial unified communications environment.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified CM lower than 8.6 and every version of CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, fix, or validate the product software. Security updates for this business-critical application will stop, which in some circumstances may create compliance or even potential liability problems.

Progent continues to provide premier support for end-of-life releases of Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, but in case your business is still using a legacy edition of this essential application your organization should start immediately to prepare for your migration. Progent's Cisco-certified consulting professionals can help your company to upgrade non-disruptively to the current release of Cisco Unified CM and can typically save customers as much as 50% off consulting expense compared to most computer service companies because of Progent's documented process and experience in this area. By following best practices, Progent can make sure your company sees a fast payback on your investment by helping you benefit fully from the enhanced feature set, lower management and support costs, more productive collaboration, and stronger security offered by the newest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and other providers, mobile connectivity, security and compliance services, streamlined management, business continuity planning, network topology design, training, and ongoing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers ultra-affordable upgrade packages to keep your costs visible and under control.

To learn additional details about Progent's engineering assistance for Cisco technology, choose a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Engineering Services
• Fast and Affordable Online Support from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Management Expertise
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Firewall with Cisco Firepower Services: Consulting and Troubleshooting Expertise
• ASA 5500 Firewall Management Expertise
• Cisco PIX 500 Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Assistance
• Cisco Routers Consulting Services
• Cisco Wireless Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Aironet Wireless APs Design Help
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Wireless APs Engineering Help
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Integration Consulting
• Meraki Wireless APs Deployment Help
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Consulting and Support Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Meraki MS Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco VPN Consulting Help
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Design and Support for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Data Center Optimization Expertise for ISPs
• Streamlined Network Management Solutions for Cisco Environments