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Sending real-time voice and video over Internet Protocol has progressed from simply being being a smart way to save money on phone carrier bills to a strategic technology for productive collaboration. Converged communications, at one time restricted to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on one network platform to take the place of traditional PBX systems, now includes voice and video, mobility, IM, real-time presence, collaboration services, and more all within a cohesive ecosystem that is easy to manage, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, economical, and user friendly.

Cisco is the leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the modern model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's unified communications architecture enhances the efficiency of IT systems by slashing operational expenses; integrating rich media functions with popular software programs to increase worker output; supporting collaboration among workers, associates, and suppliers to save effort and improve business outcomes; and streamlining the administration of your converged voice and data environment.

Cisco's UC technology include these main product areas:,

• Call Control Agents for controlling rich media calls and sessions
• Communications Endpoints to enhance worker engagement
• UC Applications for integrated access to real-time, IM, voice and video, voice messages, desktop sharing, and voice/video conferencing
• Communications Gateways for connecting to outside networks and teleworkers

Call and Session Processing Agents - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of Cisco's IP telephony portfolio infrastructure and gives you the versatility to implement a centralized call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of the two. In a centralized approach, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise phone capabilities to packet telephony products such as VoIP phones, media management products, Voice over IP gateways, and mixed media applications throughout the IT environment. Unified Communications Manager supports extra multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based client communication networks.

The most recent release of Unified Communications Manager, previously named Cisco CallManager, offers a wealth of enhancements that expedite ROI by cutting management and support costs, increasing user productivity, enhancing collaboration, accommodating the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model of computing, elevating data protection, and making efficient utilization of IT infrastructure. Top innovations include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), streamlined certificate control, extended support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for managers and users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile connectivity without requiring VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care interface that makes it simple for workers to manage their options and preferences for all endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security for mobile users.

In cases where you deploy a centralized Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for users at remote locations, IT managers can help ensure non-stop call operation through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for Cisco routers. If a Wide Area Network link breaks, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the Cisco router provides core Cisco UC Manager services until the connection is returned. For information about Progent's consulting services for Cisco routers, see consulting services for Cisco ISR routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail deployments that do not require the full feature set available from Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express offers a budget-friendly PBX alternative that meets 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 running on a Cisco router, smaller organizations can rapidly set up a unified voice/data solution.

Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a family of all-in-one solutions that offer fundamental unified communications capabilities such as routing, gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, instant messaging and real-time presence, conferencing, and paging services, enabling any end user to connect on any endpoint from any site. All Business Edition 6000 versions come preloaded with virtualization and Unified Communications applications software, making implementation fast and simple and cutting cost of ownership for companies with from 25 to 1000 workers. All systems are delivered preinstalled with virtualization and Unified Communications applications software. Organizations can simply activate UC applications as their needs grow.

The small-scale BE6000S includes five fixed unified communications applications preloaded on a single combination ISR router/gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 blade server device and can handle as many as 150 users and 300 endpoint devices. The medium-scale Business Edition 6000M includes four UC 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 includes 8 UC application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server platform and can handle as many as 1000 workers, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's expertise with Unified Communications Manager, see Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager design, configuration, upgrades and troubleshooting.

Cisco IP Phones: VoIP and IP Video Phones
An IP communications endpoint is a user device, either a physical phone or a soft phone application on a desktop or handheld computer. In the Internet Protocol world, every IP endpoint is Ethernet connected. IP phones offer all of the capabilities that an analog telephone provides, but VoIP phones can also have additional features including being able to access the web or host business software.

In contrast to conventional PBX technology, in a Cisco IP telephony environment you can perform virtually instantaneous relocations, adds, and modifications. You simply take the IP phone to your new location, attach it to the Ethernet connection, and the phone announces itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All user privileges and settings are automatically re-established, doing away with the expense and delay of sending technicians to wiring closets. An additional efficient feature is extension mobility, which enables you to log into any Cisco VoIP phone and get your own phone extension and rights.

Cisco offers a broad range of Unified CM handsets. Cisco's low-cost Small Business SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome devices offering high-quality audio, support for hosted IP phone systems or an IP PBX, simple installation and highly secure remote provisioning, transparent software updates, and browser-based configuration. The low-end SPA301 is a single-line IP phone with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer that has one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with the Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT Analog Telephone Adapter, is a multiline cordless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color screen, and a keypad with a speakerphone. Cisco's SPA303 is an entry-level three-line SIP-based phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speaker.

Cisco's SPA500 line VoIP phones are affordable devices with support for both SIP and SPCP call control protocols, two Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing capability. Most versions have a 128 x 64 monochrome screen display, The SPA501G has eight lines and has eight programmable keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no programmable buttons. The SPA504G VoIP phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and features 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G has four lines, no programmable buttons and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and features five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty VoIP endpoints intended for infrequent-use environments such as cafeterias, hallways, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome non-backlit display, an integrated Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a single-line endpoint with no display and requires a hook switch for transferring a call and joining a conference.

Cisco's 7800 line of value-priced IP phones are VoIP endpoints featuring backlit mono screens, four programmable keys, 11 dedicated buttons, an Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet, and an integral speakerphone. The 7800 Series IP Phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All models in the 7800 line feature the same high-fidelity speakers and microphones as Cisco's 8800 Series IP phones to provide a state-of-the-art audio experience. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save technology, offered on the higher end 7800 units, cuts after-hours energy consumption by as much as 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a single-line phone designed for shared areas as well as for workers with occasional-to-light voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display plus a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered via an extra-cost handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a dual-line phone with a 396 x 162 display. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only unit in the 7800 family to support Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line IP Phone 7861 VoIP phone is a 16-line device targeted for administrative staff, contact center agents, and managers who have heavy voice communications requirements.

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

Cisco's IP Phone 8800 Series is a portfolio of SIP-based IP phones that features desktop units, a conference phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop units are five-line IP phones with a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 dedicated keys. Cisco's IP Phone 8811 includes a monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet (PoE). The Cisco IP Phone 8841 has a WVGA color screen and supports Class 2 PoE. Cisco's IP Phone 8845 features a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, an adjustable camera, Bluetooth, Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, and supports Class 2 PoE. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 has a WVGA color display 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 models. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color screen, Bluetooth, dual USB connections 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, 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 Power over Ethernet.

Cisco's wireless IP phones are hardened Wi-Fi devices intended for professionals who are mobile within campus, hospitality, health-care or other environments where management requires user endpoints that offer more administrative control, security and durability than is possible with the Bring-Your-Own-Device style of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless VoIP phones provide on-the-move on-premises users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN) communications in environments that support 802.11x Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color display, a rugged shell designed for shock resistance and IP67 for dust and moisture resistance, long-life batteries, a speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio to support wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds protection against sparking for use in potentially combustible environments. The 8821-EX also has a shell fabricated out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easy to locate during an emergency. Learn about Progent's Wireless IP Phone integration consultants.

Cisco's discontinued 9900 line of powerful VoIP endpoints combine high-definition voice with business-grade color screens to offer a productive multimedia unified communications solution for managers and executives. Both models in the 9900 family incorporate a Standard Definition VGA color screen, a Bluetooth radio to work with a broad selection of headsets, and an integrated Gigabit Ethernet port. Cisco's EnergyWise feature is offered as an option and can cut off-work power use by as much as 90 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and feature keys. The IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch display, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for connecting to wireless environments, and 4 soft-label touchscreen keys to access Cisco UC functions. The 9971 supports up to 3 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and feature keys.

Unified Communications Applications
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other converged applications are isolated from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may reside anywhere within the network. A cohesive connectivity infrastructure offers a versatile platform for powerful applications and acts as a firm foundation for future convergence-based software. Cisco cooperates with leading IT industry vendors to provide a broad range of IP voice and IP video applications and products. Cisco also supports the capability to develop and administer customized internal applications.

Collaborative application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a converge media application that supports presence, IM, business-quality voice, HD video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing capabilities for PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and Android tablets plus iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and integration of the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with major enhancements to HD video capabilities and desktop screen sharing, and expanding the team environment to more operating systems and devices. Cisco Jabber operates with Cisco Unified CM for call and session management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voicemail and programmable attendant, and Cisco WebEx Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Since Jabber is based on key communication standards, it can communicate with a broad selection of non-Cisco products. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol enables Cisco Jabber to trade IM and presence data with various XMPP clients such as Adium, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber capabilities are available from Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook and SharePoint. This broad platform support optimizes productivity by delivering a consistent end-user experience and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent offers the expertise of Microsoft-certified Exchange consultants and SharePoint programmers who can assist you to take advantage of Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also can provide help with iPhone and iPad integration and Google Android smartphone integration and management to assist your organization to enhance the business value of your BYOD environment.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides online meetings for participants using a web browser or almost any desktop or mobile computer. WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as SaaS through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and scale, reduces the cost of administration, eliminates heavy up-front investment, features maximum uptime and enterprise-class security, and delivers excellent throughput. Important capabilities include the ability to share discrete content or an whole screen display with online participants in real time, the capability to embed rich media into your presentations including PowerPoint and Flash animations, session recording plus editing and playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and Cisco TelePresence, plus strong data protection and encrypted connections with tight policy control.

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux desktops and notebooks and permits mobile users to initiate, schedule, and participate in conferences on Google Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Windows Phone. Users can also initiate online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and a selection of IM applications.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Teleconferencing Ecosystems
For medium-size businesses and larger enterprises who want to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco provides a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that deliver high-quality video conferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable video conferencing bridge that runs with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged deployments and can extend meetings to include cloud-connected Cisco WebEx Meeting Center users. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software streamlines the control of how teleconferencing resources should be allocated for every individual attendee, enabling managers to define the exact service level and experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server records video conference presentations for real-time streaming as well as video on demand playback.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voice Messaging
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Unified CM, is a converged voice messaging solution that promotes productive collaboration by providing flexible set of options for accessing voice messages within a framework that is easy to implement and maintain. Cisco Unity Connection lets you read and manage voice messages from your Exchange inbox, browser, Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and powerful Automated Attendant functions that include intelligent routing for incoming phone calls and easily customizable call-screening and message-notification options. The Cisco Unity Connection system runs as a VM that can be hosted on a BE6000 server or a Cisco SRE 910 router service module and can support as many as 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Unity Express (CUE), offered in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response, and greeting functions for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprise satellite offices with up to 500 workers. Unity Express allows you to access and manage voicemail using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, a browser, or your email client. Integrated Services Routers for which Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 families. Progent can provide certified deployment and troubleshooting services for ISR routers.

Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE or UCCE) integrates closely with Cisco Unified CM and desktop agent software like Cisco Finesse to provide automatic call distribution features that allow an organization to match customers with the proper sales or support person. Unified CCE provides smart call routing, computer telephony integration, multiple channel customer contact management, network call queuing, interactive voice response and consolidated enterprise-wide reporting to simplify the creation and management of a large-scale contact center. Cisco platforms supporting Unified CCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Unified IP Phones, Voice, and Cisco network infrastructure.

Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged solution for building a customer interaction management center for mid-scale deployments that support as many as 400 agents. Multiple packages are available, plus a variety of optional enhancements. Unified CCX integrates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and offers intelligent call distribution, client management, reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, web chat, and social media requests. Unified CCX comes with Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that needs no client software setup. Optional enhancements include call-in-queue, projected-wait-time messages, and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach (SNR), makes it possible for users to be called via one number that rings at the same time on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch live conversations between their desktop VoIP phone and their mobile phone seamlessly. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Unity or Cisco Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create their own access lists that specify which calls are directed to different phones.

Cisco Prime Collaboration
Prime Collaboration provides an automated platform for first-time deployments as well as for follow-on moves, adds, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface delivers a single view of a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Prime Collaboration Provisioning significantly accelerates site rollouts and reduces the time required for ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration in addition offers advanced analytics that show technology adoption and usage trends, allowing administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Communications Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications networks to connect with public networks and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's line of gateways deliver unified communications support for all types of gateway and session-border-control applications.

Communications gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Expressway Converged Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced collaboration gatekeeper that allows companies to allow employees, vendors, customers and prospects, or business partners who are using various outside network environments, workgroup platforms, or endpoint devices to connect to Cisco Unified Communication features. Cisco's Expressway collaboration gateway works with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco Business Edition, or can be run through the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution to help make collaboration more pervasive. Important features of Cisco Expressway are:

• Mobile and Remote Connectivity: Off-site users with any Jabber-supported device or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints get the convenience of single-sign-on and of TLS security and can connect to all their Jabber workloads (video, voice, data instant messaging, and realtime presence) without requiring the extra step of a VPN connection. In addition, telecommuters can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN tunnel, providing a user environment at home the same as the office.
• Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Cisco Expressway is critical for supporting Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your organization simply and safely using lightweight web-browser and mobile multimedia calls.
• Cisco Cloud Connectivity: Expressway can act as a gateway that creates a path between onsite Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and Cisco's WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Expressway deliver a world-class, scalable teleconferencing experience that seamlessly combines voice, HD video, and data sharing to any client, anywhere, on any endpoint.
• Interoperability: In case your company already has third-party video technology, Cisco Expressway can help you to migrate efficiently to Cisco technology whenever you choose. Cisco Expressway offers video interoperability with standards-based H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol environments. Internetworking standards supported by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync H.264 SVC to MPEG-4/H.264 AVC.

• Cisco WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for high-capacity SIP-based conferencing
• Voice and Video recording
• SIP-based Call-center and interactive-voice-response (IVR) applications
• Policy-based evaluation of voice calls
• B2B teleconferencing over SIP

Cisco's Legacy UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Phone Systems
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is an early VoIP and unified communications system for small organizations. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, security, and wireless functionality, work with older Cisco VoIP phones, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections.

All of Cisco's UC500 packages include a desktop switch with 8 PoE ports plus additional FXS and FXO interfaces, a firewall, and VPN. Built-in WiFi is optional. User capacity can be increased by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 model also comes with 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 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO ports. The Cisco UC540 system supports 32 users and has 8 foreign exchange office interfaces. The Cisco UC560 package supports 48 VoIP clients and 12 FXO interfaces.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP experts can assist you to support your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and implement a smooth upgrade to a modern VoIP system such as Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Telepresence
Progent can provide online or on-premises access to a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration consultant to assist your business to plan, implement, administer and repair unified communications networks based on Cisco Unified Communication technology in an in-house, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants have in-depth backgrounds with Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, IP voice and video phones and soft phones, UC applications such as Cisco Jabber and Unity Connection, Cisco's immersive telepresence technologies, communication gatekeepers, tools incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer support for related technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and SIP gateways, CAC, VoIP trunks, various signaling protocols, and Cisco's architecture for voice, video and integrated data. Progent's SIP integration consultants can in addition help you to build SIP connectivity environments that include SIP-based VoIP phones and video phones, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools with Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Progent's custom application developers can create specialized IP telephony applications that will help your organization to integrate the capabilities of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company operations for enhanced productivity. Progent can analyze your existing network and Internet access architecture to determine whether your environment is optimized to accommodate business-quality Voice over IP and high-definition video, assist you to choose and integrate Cisco hardware and software appropriate for your current situation and downstream expansion goals, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications products with technology from other suppliers. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified network security consultants can show you how to develop, implement, and validate a comprehensive security and compliance plan for your converged communications solution. In addition, Progent can help you to configure Cisco fault-tolerant mechanisms such as Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for affordable call control redundancy in remote-branch and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you develop a viable disaster recovery strategy to protect your crucial unified communications system.

Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Consulting
Releases of Unified CM before 8.6 and every version of CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will cease to develop, repair, or validate this older software. Security patches for this business-critical application will stop, which in some situations may create compliance or even potential liability issues.

Progent will continue to provide premier support for end-of-life editions of Unified CM and CallManager, but in case you are now using a legacy edition of this pivotal application you should start immediately to plan your upgrade. Progent's collaboration consulting professionals can help your company to migrate smoothly to the latest version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can typically save customers up to 50% off consulting expense versus most computer service companies because of Progent's documented process and hands-on experience in this area. By adhering to best practices, Progent can make sure your company sees a fast payback on your IT investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the enhanced feature set, lower management and maintenance costs, more engaging collaboration, and tighter security provided by the latest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade services include return-on-investment analysis, project management, system testing, Cloud integration, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party providers, smartphone and tablet integration, security and compliance consulting, streamlined management, disaster recovery planning, network infrastructure design, staff and user training, and continuing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers fixed-priced migration service bundles to make sure your costs are visible and under control.

To learn additional information about Progent's professional assistance for Cisco solutions, pick a subject:

• Overview of Cisco Support
• Fast Online Help from a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Consultant
• Cisco Firepower Firewalls: Configuration and Troubleshooting Support
• Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Firewall with Firepower Services: Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series Firewall Consulting Support
• Cisco PIX Firewall Maintenance Help
• Cisco Routers Engineering Support
• Cisco Wireless Consulting Support
• Cisco Aironet APs Deployment Support
• Cisco Small Business WiFi Access Points System Design Expertise
• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 APs Solution Design, Deployment and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco Wireless Controllers Consulting
• Cisco Meraki APs Deployment Expertise
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Consulting and Technical Support
• Cisco Jabber Deployment Expertise
• Catalyst Switches Deployment Expertise
• Nexus Switches Configuration and Maintenance Expertise
• Cisco Meraki MS Switches Deployment Services
• Cisco VPN and Network Security Consulting Expertise
• SIP and CUBE Integration Solutions: SIP Trunking and Cisco CUBE Integration Consulting
• Infrastructure Design for Cisco-powered Datacenters and Colocation Centers
• Infrastructure Design Services for ISPs
• Remote Network Management Strategies for Cisco-powered Infrastructure