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Exchanging live voice and video over Internet Protocol has evolved from simply being being a smart way to reduce phone bills to an indispensable technology for collaboration and worker productivity. Converged IP communications, at one time limited to integrating Internet-based voice and faxes on one system to replace expensive PBX systems, today includes VoIP and video, mobility, chat, presence, collaboration services, and more all within a single framework that is easy to manage, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and user friendly.

Cisco is the leader in supplying the hardware and software infrastructure required to support the current paradigm of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the productivity of information networks by slashing operational expenses; combining multiple collaboration functions with familiar software applications to increase user output; supporting teamwork among employees, associates, and suppliers to save time and improve business outcomes; and simplifying the management of your converged voice and data infrastructure.

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

• Call Control Agents for managing calls and sessions
• VoIP and Video Phones and Softphones to optimize end-user productivity
• Unified Communications Applications for simplified access to real-time, chat, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for providing connectivity with public networks and remote users

Call and Session Control Agents - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of the Cisco IP Communications infrastructure and provides the flexibility to implement a central call-processing design, a decentralized design, or a mix of the two. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands corporate phone features to packet telephony devices such as IP phones, media management products, VoIP gateways, and mixed media applications throughout the IT environment. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports additional mixed media functions such as unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The most recent release of Unified CM, previously known as Cisco CallManager, offers a variety of improvements that expedite your return on investment by lowering administrative and support expenses, increasing user productivity, facilitating teamwork, supporting the bring-your-own-device model of computing, strengthening data protection, and making optimal utilization of network infrastructure. Top new features include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, simplified certificate control, expanded support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile connectivity with no need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care interface that makes it easy for end users to specify their preferences for all endpoint devices, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

When you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage call processing for users at distributed sites, administrators can help achieve non-stop call service through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a WAN link breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the Cisco router provides core UC Manager capabilities until the connection is repaired. For a description of Progent's consulting support for Cisco routers, see consulting support for Cisco ISR routers.

For small businesses, branch offices, and retail deployments that do not need the complete feature set offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express provides a cost-effective PBX alternative that meets the requirements of locations with up to 450 users. Because Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR), smaller offices can rapidly implement a converged voice/data environment.

The Cisco Business Edition 6000 is a family of end-to-end platforms that offer essential unified communications features including routing, IP gateway, high definition voice/video, messaging, instant messaging and real-time presence, voice and video conferencing, and paging services, allowing any end user to collaborate on any endpoint device from any location. All versions come preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications software, making implementation quick and simple and reducing operating expenses for organizations with as many as 1000 employees. All systems are shipped preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software. You can simply enable Unified Communications software applications as their requirements grow.

The entry-level BE6000S supports five preselected UC applications installed on one integrated router/IP gateway/virtualized blade server device and supports a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market Business Edition 6000M supports 4 collaboration software application options enabled on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and can handle up to 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line BE6000S Supports eight collaboration software application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server platform and has the capacity for up to 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager planning, integration, migration and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Endpoints
A communications endpoint is an end-user instrument, and can be a physical phone or a soft phone program that runs on a PC or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each IP phone is Ethernet connected. Voice over IP phones have all of the functions that an ordinary telephone provides, but IP phones often provide additional functions such as being able to connect to websites or run business applications.

In contrast to traditional PBX systems, in a Cisco IP phone network you can perform almost instantaneous relocations, adds, and changes. All you do is move the IP phone to your new location, attach it to the Ethernet jack, and the device registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user permissions and settings are automatically re-established, doing away with the cost and hassle of sending technicians to rewire connections. An additional helpful capability is extension mobility, which allows you to sign into any Cisco VoIP device and get your own phone extension and privileges.

Cisco offers a broad selection of collaboration phones. Cisco's low-cost SPA 300 family are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications phones offering wide-band audio, support for hosted IP phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy installation and safe remote provisioning, transparent software upgrades, and browser-based set up. The low-end SPA301 is a one-line IP phone with no screen or speakerphone, a base dialer with one Ethernet port, and a corded handset with no keys. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiple-line cordless DECT IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an economical 3-line SIP-based phone with dual switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 monochrome screen and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 family IP phones are affordable endpoints with support for both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and conferencing capability. Most models have a 128 x 64 mono screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no LCD display. The SPA502G has a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G IP Phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and has 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G IP Phone supports four lines, no soft buttons and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G supports four lines, has soft buttons, and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and includes five programmable buttons.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty IP voice devices intended for occasional-use settings such as lobbies, elevators, and conference centers. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 pixel mono non-backlit display, an integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line device without a display and uses a hook switch for transferring a call and joining a conference.

The 7800 Series of value-priced IP phones are VoIP devices featuring backlit mono displays, four programmable keys, 11 fixed-feature keys, an integral Ethernet switch with Class 1 Power over Ethernet, and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP signaling protocol. All devices in the 7800 family feature the same advanced speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to deliver a best-in-class audio solution. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature, offered on the higher end 7800 models, cuts off-hours energy usage by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line VoIP phone designed for shared locations and for workers with infrequent call requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is available via an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line phone with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only model in the 7800 line that provides 1xGb Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line endpoint intended for administrative staff, contact center personnel, and supervisors who have heavy voice communications requirements.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are SIP and SCCP IP voice and video devices with a 320 x 240 color display, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (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 supports four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch display and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line media phone featuring a 5.6-inch touch screen and five programmable buttons.

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-only IP phones that features desktop devices, a conference IP phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 dedicated buttons. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 features a backlit mono display and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cisco's IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. 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 PoE, and is available in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. The Cisco IP Phone 8861 has a WVGA color display, Bluetooth, two USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8865 includes a WVGA color screen, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are hardened Wi-Fi handsets intended for workers who are mobile within campus, warehouse, health-care or other venues where management wants portable phones that offer more control, security and ruggedness than is possible with the BYOD mode of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones offer mobile onsite workers the advantages of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces that support 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. The 8821 Wireless VoIP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color display, a rugged shell rated Mil-SPEC 810G for shock resistance and IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a built-in full-duplex speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio for hands-free operation with cordless headsets. The 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds spark suppression for hazardous work sites. Cisco's 8821-EX also features a shell fabricated out of yellow plastics, which makes the device easier to find during a crisis. Learn about Progent's Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone integration consultants.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of advanced IP endpoints integrate high-definition voice with high-resolution color video to deliver a rich collaborative communications solution for knowledge professionals and executives. Both IP phones in the 9900 family include a Standard Definition VGA color screen, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to work with a broad choice of headsets, and an integrated 1 GE Ethernet switch. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save function is offered as an option and can cut off-hour power use by 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and supports up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding programmable line and function keys. The Cisco 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 environments, and 4 soft-label programmable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco Unified Communications functions. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding customizable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Application Software
Within Cisco's Unified Communications architecture, IP phone, IP video, and other converged applications are isolated from the call-processing and voice-processing infrastructure, and they may reside at any location within the network. A single network infrastructure offers a versatile environment for powerful applications and provides a firm basis for future convergence-based software. Cisco works with third-party IT industry vendors to provide a broad selection of IP voice and video applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to create and manage specialized internal applications.

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

Jabber
Jabber is a UC client application that provides presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, high-definition video, voice messaging, screen sharing, and online conferencing capabilities for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, tablets plus iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major enhancements to video capabilities and screen sharing, and extending the team experience to additional platforms and devices. Cisco Jabber operates with Unified Communications Manager for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and WebEX Meeting for online meetings.

Because Cisco Jabber is based on key communication protocols, it can interoperate with a broad selection of non-Cisco products. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol allows Cisco Jabber to exchange instant messaging and presence data with other XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac, Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Cisco Jabber collaboration features can be accessed from Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint. This broad platform support maximizes productivity by providing a consistent end-user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent offers the assistance of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and Microsoft SharePoint application developers who can help you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration platforms. Progent also offers expertise with Apple iPhone integration and management and Android phone integration to help you to enhance the business value of your BYOD environment.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center provides web and video conferencing for participants using a web browser or virtually any PC or handheld computer. WebEx Meeting Center is offered as SaaS via the Cisco WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and expand, reduces the cost of administration, avoids heavy up-front expenditures, features maximum uptime and enterprise-class data protection, and delivers fast performance. Important capabilities include support for sharing specific content or your entire screen display with remote attendees in real time, the capability to add rich media into presentations including PowerPoint and Flash videos, network-based recording plus playback for training and demonstrations, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with Cisco collaboration applications like Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux-powered desktops and notebooks and permits mobile users to launch, calendarize, and attend meetings on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online meetings with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Video Conferencing Environments
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who wish to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud solution for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence software and equipment that enable high-quality video conferencing for attendees with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that works with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty telepresence to UC environments and can expand conferences to incorporate cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of how teleconferencing resources should be allocated for each attendee, allowing administrators to specify the exact service level and user experience needed for each user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video and presentations for real-time distribution and video on demand (VOD) viewing.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail and Automated Attendant
The Cisco Unity Connection, an integrated extension of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voice messaging platform that facilitates teamwork by providing a variety of alternatives for retrieving calls and messages within a framework that is simple to deploy and administer. Cisco Unity Connection allows you to read and manage your voicemail messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified VoIP Phone, an iPhone or other smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers advanced speech-recognition capabilities for hands-free operation and extensive Automated Attendant features such as smart routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-alert settings. The Cisco Unity Connection system operates as a VM that can be hosted on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router service module and can support as many as 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, provides cost-effective voicemail, integrated messaging, IVR, and automated-attendant functions for small to mid-size businesses and enterprise satellite locations with as many as 500 voice mailboxes. Cisco Unity Express permits you to manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, your web browser, or your email system. ISR Routers for which Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, 3800, and 3900 families. Progent offers comprehensive deployment and support services for all Cisco routers.

Cisco Unified Contact Center
Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) integrates with Cisco CUCM and desktop agent applications like Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities that allow an organization to connect customers with the right sales or service agent. Unified CCE or UCCE offers intelligent call distribution, computer telephony integration, support for multichannel contact management, call queuing, IVR and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the deployment and management of a large-scale contact center. Cisco products incorporated in Unified CCE's client contact management solution include Cisco Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) offers a packaged bundle for creating a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that handle as many as 400 agents. Multiple bundles are available, plus a variety of optional advanced features. Unified CCX integrates with Cisco CUCM and provides intelligent call routing, client management, integrated reporting, interactive voice response, and the ability to manage voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified CCX includes Cisco Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that requires no client installation. Optional advanced features include call-in-queue, expected-wait-time announcements, and workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly known as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be reached from one number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their cell phone. Users can switch active conversations between their desktop IP phone and their cell phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create personal access lists that specify which calls are extended to different phones.

Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning offers an automated platform for first-time installs and for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive console provides a single view of a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration significantly accelerates site rollouts and reduces the time needed for ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition provides management analytics that show technology adoption and usage trends, enabling administrators to make more efficient use of resources and further lower TCO.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco converged communications networks to communicate with public systems and with users working outside the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways provide UC support for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

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

Cisco Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that enables organizations to allow workers, suppliers, customers, or partners who are using different network environments, collaboration applications, or endpoint devices to connect to Cisco Unified Communication services. Cisco's Expressway gateway works with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco Business Edition 6000 (BE6000), or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make productive collaboration more pervasive. Key features of Cisco Expressway are:

• Mobile and Off-site Access: Remote users who have any Jabber-compatible client or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of single-sign-on as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can access all their collaboration applications (video, voice, data instant messaging, and realtime presence) without the extra step of starting a VPN connection. Also, teleworkers have the ability to utilize their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without a VPN, delivering a user environment at home that is identical to the office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is required for supporting Jabber Guest, which makes it possible for “guests” to interact with your business simply and securely using streamlined browser and mobile video calls.
• Cisco Cloud Access: Cisco Expressway can act as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms, Expressway deliver an advanced, extensible conferencing environment that seamlessly integrates business-quality voice, HD video, and data sharing to anyone, anywhere, using any endpoint.
• Interoperability: In case your company already has third-party video technology, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate easily to a Cisco solution when it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video interoperability with industry standard H.323, H.264 Scalable Video Coding, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) systems. Interoperability standards supported by Cisco Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Microsoft Lync H.264 SVC to H.264/AVC.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio for SIP-based conferencing
• Voice/Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and IVR applications
• Policy-led security evaluation of voice calls
• Business-to-business teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 product line is an all-in-one VoIP and unified communications system for small organizations. UC500 models provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, security, and wireless capabilities, run with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support public switched telephone network interfaces.

All Cisco's UC500 packages include a desktop switch appliance with 8 Power-over-Ethernet ports and additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and FXO ports, a firewall, and VPN support. Built-in WiFi is optional. VoIP user capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Every UC500 model also includes software 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 ports. The Cisco UC540 system supports 24 to 32 clients and has 8 foreign exchange office ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 users and 12 FXO ports.

Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP system or design and implement a smooth migration to a modern VoIP system such as the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco IP Voice and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Telepresence
Progent offers online or on-premises help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to help your business to design, install, manage and troubleshoot unified communications environments based on Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco engineers have extensive backgrounds supporting Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, VoIP phones and other endpoints, Unified Communications applications such as Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's immersive telepresence technologies, collaboration gatekeepers, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, SIP gateways, Call Admission Control, VoIP trunks, PSTN, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration experts can also help you to build SIP infrastructure environments that include SIP-based IP voice phones and video phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, SIP conferencing and SIP administration tools with Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's custom application developers can build specialized IP telephony applications that will help your organization to incorporate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for increased efficiency. Progent can evaluate your existing network and Internet access architecture to make sure your system is configured to accommodate business-quality VoIP and HD video, assist you to choose and deploy Cisco products that make sense for your present situation and future expansion strategy, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can assist you to develop, deploy, and validate a comprehensive security plan for your unified communications solution. In addition, Progent can assist you to deploy Cisco fault-tolerant technologies like Cisco Unified SRST to provide cost-effective call control redundancy in remote-branch and teleworker environments, and Progent's disaster recovery and business continuity planning consultants can help you create a viable disaster recovery plan to ensure the availability of your business-critical unified communications system.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Releases of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 before 8.6 and every release of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. Therefore Cisco Engineering will no longer enhance, repair, or validate this older software. Security updates for this business-critical product will stop, which in certain circumstances could cause regulatory compliance or legal liability problems.

Progent continues to provide premier consulting and troubleshooting support for outdated versions of Cisco Unified CM and Cisco CallManager, but if you are now using an out-of-dated release of this essential software you should begin now to plan your migration. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can help your company to upgrade efficiently to the latest release of Unified Communications Manager and can often save customers as much as 50% off consulting service costs compared to competing computer service companies because of Progent's documented procedures and hands-on experience in this area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can ensure that your business realizes a quick payback on your IT investment by helping you take full advantage of the enhanced features, reduced management and maintenance costs, more engaging collaboration capabilities, and stronger security offered by the current release of Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's migration consulting services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, system testing, Cloud integration, configuring collaboration endpoints from Cisco and other providers, smartphone and tablet connectivity, data protection consulting, streamlined management, business continuity planning, network topology design, staff and user training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers fixed-priced upgrade packages to keep your costs visible and affordable.

To find out more information about Progent's engineering expertise for Cisco products, choose a topic:

• Overview of Cisco Support
• Fast and Affordable Online Support from a CCIE Consultant
• Cisco Firepower NGFW Series Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower Services: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• ASA 5500 Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Services
• PIX 500 Series Firewall Upgrade. Migration Expertise
• Cisco Routers Engineering Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Consulting Support
• Aironet Access Points Deployment Help
• Cisco Small Business 100, 300 and 500 WiFi APs Deployment Services
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 APs Solution Design, Configuration and Debugging Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Support Services
• Cisco Meraki Wireless APs Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Jabber and Management Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Engineering Services
• Nexus Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Consulting and Support Expertise
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Engineering Help
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunking and CUBE Integration Consulting
• Design Expertise for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Data Center Optimization Expertise for ISPs
• Streamlined Network Management Technologies for Cisco-based Environments