Sending real-time voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a shrewd means to reduce phone carrier bills to a required technology for competitive advantage. Unified IP communications, at one time limited to combining Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single system to replace traditional PBX equipment, today includes voice and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, real-time presence, collaboration services, and much more all in a centralized framework that is easy to manage, scalable, highly secure, resilient, economical, and user friendly.
Cisco is the global leader in providing solutions required to support the new model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture adds to the productivity of IT systems by slashing operating costs; combining rich media functions with popular software applications to increase worker output; supporting teamwork among workers, partners, and vendors to save effort and enhance business outcomes; and streamlining the administration of your converged voice and data environment.
Cisco's UC solutions cover several primary product categories:,
Call Control Software - Unified Communications Manager/CallManager
Cisco's call-processing agent is the centerpiece of Cisco's IP telephony solution and gives you the versatility to implement a central call-processing model, a decentralized model, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) expands enterprise phone capabilities to packet telephony products such as IP handsets, media management products, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia applications throughout the network. Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports extra mixed media services such as unified messaging, video conferencing, and group-based customer communication networks.
The latest version of Cisco Unified CM, previously branded Cisco CallManager, offers a variety of enhancements that accelerate ROI by lowering administrative and maintenance expenses, improving user output, facilitating collaboration, supporting the bring-your-own-device model of computing, fortifying data protection, and making efficient utilization of IT resources. Top new features include automatic dial-plan replication and batch provisioning, simplified certificate control, extended support for standards-based single sign-on (SSO) for administrators and users, hardware-independent call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN, a revamped self-provisioning utility that makes it simple for end users to install their preferences for all endpoints, and support for Transport Layer Security and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.
When you implement a centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to control call processing for customers at remote locations, IT managers can help achieve continuous phone availability through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a WAN link fails, Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony incorporated in the Cisco router provides basic Unified Communications Manager capabilities until the connection is repaired. For information about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco ISR routers.
For small business networks, branch locations, and retail environments that do not need the complete functionality offered by Unified CM, Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express offers a cost-effective PBX alternative that meets the requirements of sites with as many as 450 workers. Because Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the IOS Software operating on a Cisco router, smaller offices can quickly deploy a unified voice/data solution.
Cisco's Business Edition 6000 is a line of complete solutions that offer fundamental unified communications capabilities including routing, gateway, premium voice/video, messaging, chat and real-time presence, teleconferencing, and paging services, enabling any end user to collaborate on any endpoint device from anywhere. All Business Edition 6000 systems come preloaded with virtualization and collaboration applications software, making deployment quick and easy and cutting operating expenses for organizations with up to 1000 employees. All BE6000 systems are delivered preconfigured with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications. You can instantly activate Unified Communications applications when their needs dictate.
The entry-level BE6000S supports five preselected UC software applications preloaded on one combination ISR router/IP gateway/virtualized E1600 M2 server device and can handle as many as 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market BE6000M includes 4 collaboration software application options activated on a single virtualized Cisco C220 M4 server and supports as many as 1000 workers, 1200 devices, and 100 contact center agents. The top-of-the-line BE6000S includes eight collaboration software application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server and supports up to 1000 workers, 2500 devices, and 100 contact center agents.
For more details about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager planning, integration, migration and technical support.
Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Media Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is a user device, either a physical phone set or a software phone program that runs on a PC or mobile computer. In the IP world, each VoIP handset or soft phone has an Ethernet connection. Voice over IP phones have all of the features that an analog telephone has, but Voice over IP phones can also offer additional functions including being able to connect to websites or host productivity-enhancing software.
Unlike traditional Private Branch Exchange technology, in a Cisco IP communications network you can perform almost instant relocations, adds, and modifications. You simply take the VoIP phone to your new spot, attach it to an Ethernet jack, and the handset registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager. All client privileges and configurations are automatically re-established, doing away with the expense and delay of dispatching technicians to wiring closets. Another efficient feature is location independence, which enables you to sign into any Cisco VoIP device and receive your personal phone extension and rights.
Cisco provides a wide range of VoIP phones. The low-cost SPA 300 Series are basic IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) screenless or monochrome phones that feature high-quality voice, compatibility with hosted Internet Protocol phone systems or an IP private branch exchange (PBX), easy deployment and highly secure online provisioning, zero-downtime software upgrades, and web-based set up. The low-end SPA301 is a one-line VoIP phone with no screen or speakerphone function, a base dialer with one Ethernet connector, and a wired handset without keys. The SPA302D, intended solely for use with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), is a multiple-line wireless Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications IP phone that offers 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 pixel color screen, and a keypad with a speakerphone. The SPA303 is an economical three-line SIP-based phone with two switched ports, a 128x64 monochrome display and a speaker.
Cisco's SPA500 family IP phones are low-cost endpoints that support both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two integral Ethernet switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, Power over Ethernet, and conferencing support. Most models have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G IP Phone supports eight lines and has eight programmable buttons but no hi-res display. The SPA502G VoIP phone supports a single line and has no soft buttons. The SPA504G IP Phone supports four lines and has four programmable buttons. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight programmable keys. The SPA509G VoIP phone supports 12 lines and has 12 programmable buttons. The SPA512G VoIP phone supports four lines, no soft keys and supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The SPA514G IP Phone supports four lines, has programmable buttons, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The top-of-the-line SPA525G2 VoIP phone has a 320 x 240 color screen, supports five lines, and has five programmable keys.
Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and IP Phones 6900 Series are specialty IP voice devices designed for occasional-use settings like lobbies, elevators, and conference facilities. The Unified SIP Phone 3905 IP Phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome non-backlit display, a Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet. The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line endpoint with no screen and uses a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.
The 7800 line of budget-priced IP phones are VoIP devices with backlit monochrome screens, four programmable keys, 11 dedicated keys, an Ethernet port with Class 1 PoE, and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series VoIP phones support only the SIP call control protocol. All models 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 after-hours energy usage by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line VoIP phone designed for shared locations as well as for workers with occasional-to-light voice communications requirements. The IP 7811 comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 screen and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an optional wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP endpoint with a 396 x 162 screen. The IP Phone 7841 is a four-line phone with a 396 x 162 screen and is the only unit in the 7800 series that provides Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrative staff, contact center agents, and managers who have heavy voice communications needs.
Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media endpoints with a 320 x 240 color screen, an integral Gigabit Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 fixed-feature buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a dual-line unit and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G includes four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch screen and four soft keys. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G unit is an eight-line media phone with 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 phone, and wireless IP Phones. The desktop models are five-line IP phones featuring a 5-inch 800 x 480 display, a Gigabit Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, four soft buttons and 12 fixed-feature buttons. The Cisco IP Phone 8811 includes a backlit monochrome screen and supports Class 2 Power over Ethernet. Cisco's IP Phone 8841 features 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 Power over Ethernet. The Cisco IP Phone 8851 features a WVGA color display and one USB port with charging capability, supports Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice and Class 3 PoE, and is offered in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth versions. Cisco's IP Phone 8861 includes a WVGA color screen, 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 has a WVGA color display, 720p HD video, a tiltable camera, Bluetooth, dual USB connections with charging capability, and supports Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice, Wi-Fi, and Class 4 PoE.
Cisco's wireless VoIP phones are industrial-grade Wi-Fi handsets designed for professionals who are mobile within campus, hospitality, health-care or other venues where IT management requires portable phones that provide more administrative control, data security and ruggedness than is achievable with the BYOD mode of workplace communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones provide mobile on-premises workers the benefits of voice over wireless LAN technology in workplaces with 802.11x Wi-Fi. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone features a 2.4 inch color display, a durable case designed to withstand dropping and compliant with IP67 for particulate and moisture resistance, extended batteries, a built-in speakerphone, and a Bluetooth 4.0 transceiver to support wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds spark suppression for use in hazardous work sites. The 8821-EX also has a case fabricated of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easier to locate the event of a crisis. Find out about Progent's Cisco Wireless IP Phone integration and troubleshooting consultants.
Cisco's legacy 9900 line of high-performance VoIP phones combine high-quality voice with hi-res color video to provide a rich multimedia experience for knowledge professionals and executive management. The two models in this line incorporate a Standard Definition 640x480 pixel color display, a Bluetooth 2.0 radio to support a broad choice of headsets, and an integrated 1 GE Ethernet switch. The Cisco EnergyWise function is optional and can cut off-hour power use by as much as 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch screen and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, a built-in 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi transceiver for connecting to Voice-over-wireless LAN (VoWLAN) environments, and 4 customizable touchscreen keys to access Cisco UC features. The 9971 IP phone supports up to 3 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for expanding programmable line and function keys.
Cisco Unified Communications Application Software
Within Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP phone, IP video, and other converged applications are physically independent from the call- and voice-processing mechanism, and they may be anywhere within the system. A single connectivity infrastructure provides a versatile environment for feature-rich business applications and acts as a firm foundation for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with third-party technology partners to provide a broad range of IP telephony and IP video applications and products. Cisco also enables the ability to develop and manage customized in-house programs.
Unified Communications application software offered by Cisco and supported by Progent's consultants include:
Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a UC application that provides presence, instant messaging, business-quality voice, HD video, voicemail, desktop sharing, and online conferencing features for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, tablets as well as iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries. Cisco Jabber is an evolution and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with significant improvements to HD video features and desktop screen sharing, and extending the collaboration experience to more operating systems and devices. Jabber works in conjunction with 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 conferencing.
Because Cisco Jabber utilizes key communication protocols, it can interoperate with a wide range of non-Cisco products. As an example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) allows Jabber to trade IM and presence data with other XMPP clients such as Adium for Mac OS, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync and Office Communications Server. Jabber capabilities can be accessed from Microsoft Office applications including Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This cross-platform support maximizes output by delivering a common end-user environment and fully enabling the BYOD paradigm of networking. Progent offers the expertise of certified Exchange consultants and Microsoft SharePoint experts who can show you how to use Jabber with Microsoft's powerful collaboration products. Progent also offers expertise with Apple iPhone integration and management as well as Android smartphone integration and management to help you to enhance the business value of your BYOD ecosystem.
WebEX Meeting Center
WebEX Meeting Center provides web and video meetings for participants using a browser or virtually any desktop or mobile device. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center is offered as software as a service via Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it easy to roll out and scale, reduces the cost of administration, avoids major up-front investment, features maximum uptime and world-class security, and delivers excellent throughput. Important capabilities include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen display with remote participants in real time, the capability to embed multimedia into presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash animations, session and content recording plus editing and playback for future reference and training, single sign-on (SSO) and integration with Cisco collaboration products like Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data privacy and encrypted connections with strict policy control.
WebEX Meeting Center runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux-powered PCs and allows mobile users to initiate, schedule, and take part in meetings on Google Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry handhelds, and Microsoft Windows Phone. Users can also launch web meetings with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a selection of instant messaging solutions.
Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for In-house Teleconferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who wish to create an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud environment for video conferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence platforms that enable high-quality and standards-based video conferencing for attendees with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is an expandable teleconferencing bridge that works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to converged environments and can expand conferences to support cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies the control of how video conferencing resources are rationed for each attendee, allowing administrators to define the exact service level and experience required for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video and presentations for live streaming and video on demand (VOD) playback.
Cisco's Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Unified Voicemail
Cisco's Unity Connection, an extension of Unified Communications Manager, is a converged voice messaging system that facilitates productive collaboration by offering a variety of alternatives for retrieving voice messages within an environment that is easy to deploy and manage. Unity Connection lets you access and manage voicemail from your Exchange inbox, browser, Cisco Jabber messaging integration platform, a Cisco Unified VoIP endpoint, an iPhone or other smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Unity Connection also offers sophisticated voice-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and powerful Automated Attendant capabilities that include intelligent routing for inbound calls and custom call-screening and message-notification options. The Unity Connection platform operates as a fully virtualized system that can reside on a Business Edition 6000 server or a Cisco Services Ready Engine 910 router blade service module and can support up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.
Cisco Unity Express (CUE), available in select Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers cost-effective voicemail, unified messaging, IVR, and greeting services for small to medium businesses (SMBs) and corporate satellite locations with up to 500 users. Cisco Unity Express allows users to manage voicemail messages using a Cisco Unified IP Phone screen, a browser, or an email system. Cisco routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as a network module include Cisco's 1861, 2900, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide comprehensive deployment and troubleshooting services for all Integrated Services Routers.
Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (UCCE) integrates closely with CUCM and agent desktop applications such as Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper salesperson or service representative. Unified CCE offers intelligent call routing, computer telephony integration, multichannel customer contact management, network-wide call queuing, IVR and advanced enterprise-wide reporting to streamline the creation and administration of a large-scale customer contact center. Cisco products incorporated in UCCE's client contact management ecosystem include Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco network infrastructure.
Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (CCX) offers an out-of-the-box solution for creating a customer contact center for branch or midmarket systems that support up to 400 agents. Several bundles are available, as well as a selection of optional advanced features. Unified CCX integrates with Unified CM and offers smart call routing, client interaction management, integrated reporting, IVR, and management of voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Unified CCX includes Finesse, a browser-based customizable desktop agent that needs no client installation. Optional enhancements include conditional routing, estimated-wait-time announcements, and quality management.
Cisco Mobile Connect for Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, popularly referred to as Single Number Reach, makes it possible for users to be called from one phone number that rings simultaneously on their Cisco desktop IP Phone and their smartphone. Users can switch active calls between their desktop VoIP phone and their smartphone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection voicemail account. Users can create personal access lists that determine which calls are directed to alternate endpoints.
Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration offers an automated platform for initial deployments and for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. A user-friendly interface delivers a unified view of a user and the user's services. Prime Collaboration significantly speeds up site rollouts and reduces the time required for ongoing changes. Prime Collaboration in addition offers management analytics that show technology adoption and usage rates, allowing administrators to optimize resources and further lower TCO.
Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways permit Cisco Unified Communications environments to communicate with other networks and with users working beyond the corporate firewall. Cisco's line of gateways deliver UC services for a wide variety of gateway and session-border-control applications.
Collaboration gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:
Expressway Communication Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is an advanced unified communications and collaboration gatekeeper that allows organizations to allow employees, suppliers, consumers, or partners who are using various outside networks, collaboration platforms, or endpoint devices to access to Cisco Unified Communication features. The Expressway gateway works with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco Business Edition 6000, or can be accessed via the cloud with Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to make productive collaboration more universal. Key capabilities of Cisco Expressway are:
Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The legacy Cisco Unified Communications 500 (UC500) Series is an all-in-one VoIP gateway solution for small businesses. UC500 packages deliver voice, data, voicemail, auto attendant, video, security, and WiFi capabilities, run with older Cisco IP Voice endpoints, and support various public switched telephone network (PSTN) interfaces.
All of Cisco's UC500 packages include a desktop switch appliance with 8 PoE ports plus additional FXS and FXO ports, a firewall, and VPN. Built-in WiFi is an option. User capacity can be expanded by attaching Cisco Catalyst Express companion switches. Each UC500 model also includes software licenses for Cisco Unified Communications Manager for VoIP call processing and Cisco Unity Express for voice messaging and automated attendant. The Cisco UC520 system supports 8 to 16 users and include 4 foreign exchange stations and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 system allows 24 to 32 clients and has 8 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC560 package supports 48 users and 12 foreign exchange office interfaces.
Progent's seasoned VoIP experts can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or design and implement an efficient upgrade to a current VoIP system like the Cisco cloud-managed Business Edition 4000.
How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, CUCM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers remote or onsite help from a certified CCIE Collaboration consultant to assist you to design, deploy, administer and repair unified communications networks built on Cisco Unified Communication products in a centralized, distributed, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco consultants have in-depth experience integrating Unified Communications Manager and CallManager, IP voice and video phones and other endpoints, UC applications such as Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's video conferencing technologies, collaboration gateways, utilities incorporated into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also offer expertise with related technologies like Cisco SRST, Cisco Unified Border Element, H.323 and H.264 gateways, Call Admission Control, IP voice trunks, various signaling protocols, and AVVID. Progent's SIP integration experts can also help you to create SIP connectivity environments that include SIP-based IP voice phones and media phones, SIP-based CUBE trunks, and SIP management tools with CUCM.
Progent's application programmers can build specialized IP telephony applications that will help your organization to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your business processes for enhanced efficiency. Progent can audit your existing network and Internet access infrastructure to make sure your environment is configured to support business-quality IP voice and high-definition video, assist you to select and install Cisco hardware and software that make sense for your present needs and downstream expansion strategy, and interface your Cisco collaborative communications solution with products from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security consultants can show you how to create, carry out, and validate a comprehensive security plan for your converged communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can assist your organization to configure Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony for cost-effective call control backup in branch office and teleworker sites, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you develop a sensible DR/BC plan to protect your business-critical unified communications system.
Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Migration Consulting
Releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8.6 before 8.6 and every version of its predecessor CallManager have arrived at end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer enhance, fix, or test the product software. Security patches for this business-critical product will end, which in some circumstances could cause compliance or legal liability issues.
Progent continues to provide comprehensive support services for end-of-life editions of Cisco Unified CM and CallManager, but if you are still using a legacy version of this essential software you should begin immediately to prepare for your migration. Progent's collaboration consultants can assist your company to upgrade smoothly to the current release of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and can often save clients up to 50% off consulting costs compared to competing computer service firms because of Progent's documented procedures and experience in this practice area. By following leading practices, Progent can ensure that your company gets a quick return on your IT investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the enhanced features, lower administrative and maintenance expense, more engaging collaboration, and stronger security offered by the current version of Cisco Unified Communications Manager.
Progent's migration services include return-on-investment assessment, project management or co-management, system testing, Cloud connectivity, setting up endpoint devices from Cisco and other suppliers, mobile connectivity, security and compliance services, streamlined management, disaster recovery/business continuity planning, network infrastructure design, training, and ongoing consulting services and technical support. Progent also offers fixed-priced migration packages to make sure your costs are visible and affordable.
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