Cisco Voice over IP Consulting FirmExchanging live voice and video over IP (VoIP and Video over IP) has progressed from simply being being a smart method to cut phone carrier bills to an indispensable technology for productive collaboration. Converged communications, once limited to integrating Internet-based voice calls and faxing on a single platform to take the place of traditional PBX systems, now encompasses voice and video, mobile communications, instant messaging, presence, services, and more all in a cohesive framework that is easy to manage, scalable, highly secure, fault-tolerant, cost-effective, and user friendly.

Cisco is the market leader in providing the hardware and software infrastructure for supporting the new model of unified communications (UC). Cisco's UC architecture enhances the productivity of information networks by cutting operating costs; combining rich media functions with popular software programs to increase worker output; facilitating collaboration among workers, partners, and suppliers to save time and enhance business results; and streamlining the support of your converged voice and data ecosystem.

Cisco's UC solutions address several primary product areas:,

  • Call Control Platforms for managing calls and sessions
  • VoIP and Video Phones and Softphones to optimize end-user productivity
  • Unified Communications Software Applications for more productive access to real-time, chat, voice and video, phone messages, desktop sharing, and conferencing
  • Communications Gateways for accessing public networks and telecommuters
Progent can provide the online or onsite consulting services of a Cisco-certified CCIE (Collaboration) specialist who can assist organizations of all sizes to design, deploy, administer, upgrade, optimize, move, and repair Cisco unified communications products so that you highest competitive advantage of your UC investment. Progent can provide advanced consulting for every element of Cisco's unified communications solutions including call management tools, VoIP and softphones, and immersive telepresence software. Progent also offers expertise for Cisco's realtime media-optimized network infrastructure products including ISR routers, Catalyst and Nexus switches, ASA firewalls, and voice gateways.

Call and Session Processing Software - Unified Communications Manager (CallManager)
Cisco Collaborative Communications ConsultantsCisco's call-processing agent is the heart of the Cisco IP telephony portfolio and provides the flexibility to implement a centralized call-processing design, a decentralized design, or a mix of both. In a centralized deployment, Unified Communications Manager (UC Manager or CUCM) extends corporate telephony capabilities to packet telephony network devices such as IP handsets, media processing appliances, Voice over IP gateways, and multimedia applications throughout the network. Unified Communications Manager supports extra multimedia functions including unified messaging, multimedia conferencing, and group-based customer interaction networks.

The most recent version of Cisco Unified CM, formerly known as Cisco CallManager, offers a wealth of improvements that expedite your return on investment by cutting management and maintenance expenses, increasing user output, facilitating collaboration, accommodating the bring-your-own-device style of working, strengthening data protection, and allowing optimal use of network resources. Top new features include Global Dial Plan Replication (GDPR), streamlined certificate control, extended support for standards-based single sign-on for managers and users, hardware-agnostic call recording, mobile access without the need for VPN tunneling, a revamped self-care interface that makes it simple for workers to select their preferences for all of their endpoints, and support for Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol for mobile clients.

In cases where you implement a central Cisco Unified Communications Manager cluster to manage voice processing for users at remote sites, administrators can help ensure continuous phone service through Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, a Cisco IOS Software image for routers. If a Wide Area Network connection fails, Cisco SRST incorporated in the router offers basic Unified Communications Manager services until the connection is restored. To learn about Progent's consulting support services for Cisco ISR routers, refer to consulting and troubleshooting support services for Cisco Integrated Services routers.

For small business networks, branch locations, and retail environments that do not require the full functionality offered by Unified CM, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, previously known as CallManager Express provides a budget-friendly solution that meets the requirements of sites with as many as 450 workers. Because Unified Communications Manager Express Unified Communications Manager Express (Unified CCX) is embedded in the Cisco IOS Software operating on a Cisco ISR router, smaller offices can rapidly deploy a unified voice/data solution.

Cisco's BE6000 is a family of complete solutions that offer essential collaboration capabilities such as routing, IP gateway, premium voice and video, messaging, instant messaging and presence, teleconferencing, and paging support, allowing any end user to connect on any endpoint device from any location. All solutions are shipped preloaded with a virtualization hypervisor and Unified Communications applications software, making implementation fast and simple and reducing cost of ownership for organizations with from 25 to 1000 employees. All solutions come packaged preinstalled with a virtualization hypervisor and collaboration applications software. You can simply activate collaboration software applications when their needs dictate.

The entry-level Business Edition 6000S supports five preselected UC applications installed on a single integrated 2921V router/gateway/virtualized blade server platform and supports a maximum capacity of 150 workers and 300 endpoint devices. The mid-market BE6000M includes 4 unified communications software application options enabled on a virtualized Cisco UCS C220 M4 server platform and can handle a maximum capacity of 1000 users, 1200 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents. The high-end Business Edition 6000H includes 8 collaboration software application options activated on a virtualized C220 M4 server and has the ability to support as many as 1000 workers, 2500 endpoint devices, and 100 contact center agents.

For more details about Progent's support for Unified Communications Manager, see Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and Cisco CallManager planning, configuration, upgrades and technical support.

Cisco IP Phones: IP Voice and IP Video Endpoints
An IP communications endpoint is a user device, and can be a hardware phone or a software phone application that runs on a desktop or mobile computer. In the IP environment, each VoIP phone is Ethernet connected. VoIP phones offer all of the functions that an analog telephone has, but Voice over IP phones often provide extra functions such as being able to access websites or host productivity-enhancing software.

Cisco Voice over IP Phones Professional ServicesUnlike conventional Private Branch Exchange systems, in a Cisco IP phone network you can implement virtually instant moves, adds, and modifications. All you do is take the IP phone to your new spot, plug it into an Ethernet connection, and the IP phone registers itself with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). All client privileges and configurations are automatically replicated, doing away with the cost and delay of dispatching technicians to wiring closets. Another useful feature is location independence, which enables you to log into any Cisco VoIP phone and receive your own phone extension and rights.

Cisco offers a broad selection of Unified CM handsets. The low-cost Small Business SPA 300 Series are no-frills IP and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications screenless or monochrome phones that feature wide-band audio, compatibility with hosted IP phone environments or an IP PBX, easy installation and secure remote provisioning, in-service software updates, and browser-based set up. The low-end SPA301 is a one-line IP endpoint with no display or speakerphone function, a base dialer with a single Ethernet port, and a wired handset with no a keypad. The SPA302D, intended exclusively for use with Cisco's SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, is a multiple-line wireless DECT IP phone that supports 10-lines, a TFT 176 x 220 color screen, and a dial pad with speakerphone capability. The SPA303 is an economical three-line IP phone with two switched Ethernet ports, a 128x64 mono display and a speaker.

Cisco SPA500 IP Phones ConsultingThe SPA500 family VoIP phones are low-cost devices with support for both SIP and SPCP signaling protocols, two switch ports, speakerphones, built-in web servers, PoE, and voice conferencing support. Most versions have a 128 x 64 pixel mono screen display, The SPA501G VoIP phone supports eight lines and has eight soft keys but no LCD screen. The SPA502G IP Phone supports a single line and has no soft keys. The SPA504G has four lines and has four soft keys. The SPA508G VoIP phone supports eight lines and eight soft buttons. The SPA509G supports 12 lines and has 12 soft buttons. The SPA512G VoIP phone supports four lines, no programmable keys and supports 1xGb Ethernet. The SPA514G VoIP phone supports four lines, has programmable keys, and supports Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end SPA525G2 IP Phone has a 320 x 240 color display, supports five lines, and includes five programmable keys.

Cisco's IP Phones 3900 Series and 6900 Series are specialty VoIP devices intended for occasional-use settings such as lobbies, elevators, and conference facilities. Cisco's Unified SIP Phone 3905 features VoIP phone features a 128 x 32 monochrome screen, a 10/100 Ethernet switch, a speakerphone, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The simple Cisco Unified IP Phone 6901 is a one-line device without a screen and requires a hook switch for transferring a call or conferencing.

The 7800 Series of economical IP phones are VoIP desktop devices with backlit mono displays, four soft buttons, 11 dedicated keys, an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a speakerphone. Cisco's 7800 Series support only the SIP call control protocol. All devices in Cisco's 7800 family incorporate 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 technology, available on the advanced 7800 models, reduces after-hours energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The Cisco IP Phone 7811 is a one-line phone intended for common areas and for employees with occasional-to-light call needs. The IP 7811 VoIP phone comes with a 3.28-inch 384 x 106 display and a narrow-band speakerphone. Wideband audio is offered through an extra-cost wideband handset. Cisco's IP Phone 7821 is a two-line VoIP endpoint 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 device in the 7800 series to support Gigabit Ethernet. The high-end IP Phone 7861 is a 16-line endpoint targeted for administrative staff, contact center personnel, and supervisors who have significant voice communications needs.

The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series are dual-protocol (SIP/SCCP) media endpoints with a 320 x 240 color display, a 1xGb Ethernet switch, Class 3 Power over Ethernet (PoE), 10 dedicated buttons and a speakerphone. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7945G is a two-line device and the Cisco Unified IP Phone 7965G features four lines. Both IP phones have a 5-inch screen and four soft buttons. The Cisco Unified IP Phone 7975G device is an eight-line IP voice and video phone with a 5.6-inch touch screen and five soft keys.

Cisco 8800 Series IP Phones Consultants

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

Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone Integration and Troubleshooting SupportCisco's wireless IP phones are industrial-grade wireless handsets intended for professionals who are on the move within office, warehouse, health-care or other venues where management requires portable phones that provide more administrative control, data security and durability than is achievable with the BYOD style of mobile communications. Cisco's 8821 and 8812-EX wireless IP phones offer mobile onsite users the advantages of voice over wireless LAN communications in environments with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cisco's 8821 Wireless IP Phone includes a 2.4 inch color display, a rugged case designed for shock resistance and IP67 for particulate and splash resistance, extended batteries, a full-duplex speakerphone, and an integrated Bluetooth 4.0 radio to support wireless headsets. Cisco's 8821-EX Wireless VoIP Phone adds spark suppression for use in hazardous work sites. The 8821-EX also features a case fabricated out of industry-standard yellow plastics, which makes it easy to find the event of a crisis. Learn about Progent's Wireless VoIP Phone integration consultants.

Cisco 9900 Series VoIP Phones ConsultantsCisco's discontinued 9900 Series of advanced IP phones mix high-quality voice with high-resolution color video to deliver a rich collaborative UC experience for knowledge professionals and executive management. Both models in this line include an SD 24-bit color display, a Bluetooth transceiver to work with a wide range of headsets, and an integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet port. Cisco's EnergyWise power-save feature is offered as an option and can reduce off-work energy draw by up to 90 percent. The IP Phone 9951 features a 5-inch display and allows up to 2 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to programmable line and feature keys. The Cisco IP Phone 9971 features a 5.6-inch screen, an integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radio for deployment with Voice-over-WLAN environments, and four customizable touchscreen keys to invoke Cisco UC features. The 9971 VoIP phone supports up to 3 Cisco IP Color Key Expansion Modules for adding scalability to customizable line and function keys.

Cisco Unified Communications Application Software
Under Cisco's Unified Communications platform, IP telephony, IP video, and other UC applications are physically isolated from the call/voice processing infrastructure, and they may reside anywhere within the system. A single network infrastructure provides an open platform for feature-rich applications and acts as a solid foundation for downstream convergence-based software. Cisco works with third-party IT industry vendors to provide a broad selection of IP telephony and video software applications and products. Cisco also supports the ability to create and administer customized in-house programs.

Collaborative applications offered by Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a unified communications application that supports presence, IM, voice, video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and real-time conferencing functions for PCs, Apple Macs, Apple and Android tablets plus smartphones. Cisco Jabber is a rebranding and combination of the Unified Personal Communicator soft phone application, Cisco Mobile, and Cisco WebEx Connect, with important improvements to HD video features and screen sharing, and expanding the collaboration experience to additional platforms and endpoint hardware. Jabber works in conjunction with Cisco Unified CM for call management, Cisco Unified Presence for IM and presence, Unity Connection for voice messaging and automated attendant, and WebEX Meeting for conferencing and online meetings.

Since Cisco Jabber is built around key communication standards, it can communicate with a wide selection of non-Cisco platforms. For example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) enables Jabber to trade IM and presence data with various XMPP clients including as Adium for Mac, IBM Sametime, and Microsoft Lync. Jabber collaboration features are available from Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. This cross-platform compatibility optimizes output by delivering a consistent end-user environment and accommodating the bring-your-own-device paradigm of networking. Progent can provide the services of Microsoft-certified Exchange and Outlook consultants and SharePoint application developers who can assist you to use Jabber with Microsoft's popular collaboration platforms. Progent also can provide expertise with iPhone integration and management as well as Google Android phone integration to help you to enhance the business value of your BYOD environment.

Cisco WebEx Meeting Center
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center enables web meetings for users with a web browser or virtually any desktop or mobile device. WebEx Meeting Center is delivered as software as a service (SaaS) through Cisco's WebEx Cloud. This makes it simple to roll out and expand, streamlines administration, avoids heavy up-front investment, features maximum uptime and enterprise-grade security, and provides fast throughput. Important capabilities include support for sharing discrete content or your whole screen with remote attendees in real time, the ability to incorporate rich media into your presentations including Microsoft PowerPoint and Flash videos, recording plus playback for training, single sign-on and support for other Cisco collaboration products such as Cisco Jabber and TelePresence, plus stringent data protection and encrypted access with strict policy control.

WebEx Meeting Center Online Conferencing Consultants

WebEX Meeting Center works with Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and notebooks and allows mobile workers to launch, schedule, and take part in meetings on Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, BlackBerry phones, and Microsoft Windows Phone. You can also launch online conferences with a few clicks from Microsoft Office, Outlook, Notes, and a variety of IM solutions.

Cisco TelePresence Portfolio for On-premises Video Conferencing Infrastructure
For medium-size businesses and enterprises who wish to build an on-premises or hybrid local/cloud environment for teleconferencing, Cisco offers a selection of Cisco TelePresence products that deliver high-quality teleconferencing for users with virtually any endpoint device at any location. Cisco TelePresence Server is a scalable teleconferencing bridge that runs in conjunction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to provide multiparty video, audio and content sharing to unified communications environments and can extend meetings to include cloud-connected WebEx Meeting Center participants. Cisco TelePresence Conductor software simplifies management of the way video conferencing resources are allotted for every individual attendee, allowing managers to define the exact service level and experience needed for every user. Cisco TelePresence Content Server collects video conference presentations for real-time distribution as well as video on demand playback.

Cisco Unity Connection Platform and Unity Express for Converged Voicemail and Automated Attendant
The Cisco Unity Connection, an extension of Cisco Unified CM, is a unified voice messaging platform that accelerates productive collaboration by offering a variety of options for retrieving calls and messages within an environment that is simple to implement and maintain. Unity Connection allows you to access and manage voicemail messages from your Exchange inbox, web browser, Cisco Jabber, a Cisco Unified IP endpoint, a smartphone, or an iPad or tablet. Cisco Unity Connection also offers advanced speech-recognition capabilities for hands and eyes free operation and extensive Automated Attendant features such as smart routing for inbound calls and easily customizable call-filtering and message-notification settings. The Cisco Unity Connection platform runs 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 accommodate up to 20,000 voice mailboxes per server.

Unity Express (CUE), available in certain Cisco Integrated Services routers, offers affordable voicemail, unified messaging, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated-attendant functions for small to medium businesses and enterprise branch locations with as many as 500 workers. Cisco Unity Express permits you to access and manage voicemail messages using a Cisco IP Phone display, your web browser, or your email client. Cisco routers for which Cisco Unity Express is offered as a network module or advanced integration module include Cisco's 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series. Progent can provide certified configuration and troubleshooting services for ISR routers.

Unified Contact Center
Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) works with Cisco Unified CM and desktop agent software such as Cisco Finesse to offer automatic call distribution (ACD) features that allow an organization to connect customers with the proper sales or service agent. UCCE features smart call distribution, computer telephony integration (CTI), multichannel contact management, call queuing, interactive voice response and advanced company-wide reporting to streamline the creation and management of a large-scale contact center. Cisco products incorporated in UCCE's customer contact management ecosystem include Unified IP Phones, Cisco Voice Gateways, and Cisco LAN/WAN technology.

Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) provides a packaged bundle for building a customer contact center for mid-scale systems that handle as many as 400 agents. Several bundles are offered, as well as a selection of optional enhancements. Cisco Unified CCX integrates with Cisco CUCM and offers smart call routing, client management, reporting, IVR, and the ability to manage voice, email, chat, and social media inquiries. Cisco Unified CCX includes Finesse, a browser-based desktop agent that requires no client-side installation. Advanced options include conditional routing, projected-wait-time messages, and productivity optimization with workforce and quality management.

Cisco Mobile Connect and Single Number Reach (SNR)
Mobile Connect, commonly referred to as Single Number Reach, allows users to be called via one number that rings at the same time on their Cisco desktop VoIP Phone and their smartphone. Users can transfer live calls between their desktop VoIP phone and their mobile phone without disruption. Unanswered calls can be redirected to a Cisco Unity or Unity Connection account. Users can create their own access lists that determine which calls are extended to different endpoints.

Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Prime Collaboration provides an automated process for first-time deployments and for follow-on moves, additions, changes, and deletions. An intuitive interface provides a single look at a subscriber and the subscriber's services. Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning substantially accelerates site rollouts and minimizes the time required to implement ongoing updates. Prime Collaboration also offers advanced analytics including application adoption and consumption trends, allowing administrators to optimize IT resources and further reduce total cost of ownership.

Cisco Collaboration Gateways
Cisco's communications gateways allow Cisco converged communications networks to connect with other systems and with users working beyond the firewall. Cisco's portfolio of communication gateways provide unified communications services for all types of gateway as well as session-border-control applications.

Communications gateways available from Cisco and supported by Progent include:

Expressway Collaboration Gateway
Cisco's Expressway is a powerful collaboration gateway that enables companies to provide team members, suppliers, customers and prospects, or business partners who are working on different networks, collaboration applications, or endpoint equipment to connect to Unified Communication features. The Expressway gateway works in conjunction with an enterprise Cisco CM deployment or Cisco BE6000, or can be accessed through the cloud with Cisco HCS to make productive collaboration more universal. Key capabilities of Expressway are include:

  • Mobile and Off-site Access: Off-site users with any Jabber-compatible device or telecommuters with Cisco TelePresence endpoints have the convenience of single-sign-on and of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and can connect to all their collaboration applications (video, voice, rich content instant messaging, and realtime presence) without the inconvenience establishing a VPN connection. In addition, telecommuters can use their Cisco TelePresence endpoints without the need for a VPN, providing a user environment at home identical to the corporate office.
  • Cisco Jabber Guest Support: Expressway is critical for enabling the Cisco Jabber Guest, which allows “guests” to communicate with your organization simply and safely through lightweight browser and mobile video calls.
  • Cisco Cloud Access: Expressway can function as a gateway that connects between on-premises Cisco or non-Cisco collaboration solutions and the WebEx cloud. By supporting Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms (CMRs), Cisco Expressway deliver an advanced, scalable meeting environment that seamlessly combines business-quality voice, video, and data sharing to any client, at any location, using any endpoint.
  • Interoperability: In case your organization already has non-Cisco video systems, Expressway can help you to move easily to Cisco technology when it makes business sense. Cisco Expressway provides video compatibility with industry standard H.323, H.264 SVC, or Session Initiation Protocol environments. Internetworking standards allowed by Expressway include IPv4 to IPv6, H.323 to SIP, and Microsoft Lync 2013 H.264 SVC to H.264/AVC.
Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE)
Cisco Unified Border Element is an enterprise-class session border controller that interconnects unified communications systems to the IP public switched telephone network. Beyond providing session border control, Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) provides simple and affordable collaboration outside the corporate firewall. Sample collaboration features enabled by CUBE include:
  • WebEx Cloud Connected Audio (CCA) for SIP-media-connected audio conferencing
  • Voice/Video recording
  • SIP-based Call-center and IVR solutions
  • Policy-led security evaluation of voice calls
  • Business-to-business telepresence over SIP
Cisco Unified Border Element software can be licensed on Cisco IOS software and can be enabled on many of Cisco's enterprise router platforms, including ASR 1000 Series, the ISR 4000, the ISR G2 Series, and several versions of the 800 fixed-configuration routers. Cisco's virtualized CUBE, called vCUBE, runs in a VMware ESXI virtual application container.

Cisco's End-of-Life UC520, UC540 and UC560 VoIP Gateways
The end-of-life Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is a VoIP and unified communications solution for small organizations. UC500 packages provide voice, data, voicemail, automated attendant, video, firewall, and wireless functionality, run with older generation Cisco IP Voice phones, and support various public switched telephone network interfaces.

Cisco UC500 Series VoIP Gateway Consultants

Cisco's discontinued UC500 VoIP switch was the heart of a complete unified communications solution

All of Cisco's UC500 series bundles include a compact switch with 8 Power-over-Ethernet interfaces and additional foreign exchange stations (FXS) and foreign exchange office (FXO) interfaces, a firewall, and VPN support. Integrated WiFi is optional. User capacity can be expanded by connecting with Cisco Catalyst Express switches. Every UC500 model also includes 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 system supports 8 to 16 users and include 4 FXS and 4 FXO interfaces. The Cisco UC540 package allows 24 to 32 clients and provides 8 FXO ports. The Cisco UC560 package allows 48 VoIP clients and 12 foreign exchange office ports.

Progent's Cisco-certified VoIP consultants can assist you to maintain your legacy UC500 VoIP gateway or plan and carry out an efficient migration to a current IP telephony and voicemail system such as Cisco's Business Edition 4000.

How Progent Can Assist You with Cisco VoIP and IP Media Phones, Cisco Unified CM, and Video Conferencing
Progent offers remote or onsite help from a certified CCIE Collaboration expert to assist you to design, implement, administer and troubleshoot unified communications environments that incorporate Cisco Unified Communication technology in a centralized, cloud-based, or hybrid environment. Progent's Cisco consultants have extensive backgrounds integrating Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, IP voice and video phones and soft phones, UC applications like Cisco Jabber and WebEx Meeting Center, Cisco's teleconferencing technologies, collaboration gateways, tools built into Cisco switches and routers. Progent can also provide expertise with technologies like Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony, CUBE, H.323 and H.264 gateways, Call Admission Control, 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 create SIP connectivity solutions that incorporate SIP VoIP phones and video endpoints, SIP trunks, and SIP management tools with CUCM.

Progent's application developers can build specialized unified communications applications that will enable your business to incorporate the features of Cisco Unified Communications Manager into your company processes for increased productivity. Progent can revue your existing network and Internet connectivity architecture to make sure your system is optimized to support business-quality Voice over IP and high-definition video, assist you to select and integrate Cisco products that make sense for your current needs and downstream growth goals, and integrate your Cisco Unified Communications solution with technology from other vendors. Progent's CISSP-ISSAP certified data security consultants can show you how to create, implement, and validate a comprehensive security and compliance strategy for your unified communications ecosystem. Also, Progent can help your organization to configure Cisco high-availability technologies like Cisco Unified Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) for cost-effective call control redundancy in branch office and telecommuter environments, and Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants can help you create a viable disaster recovery strategy to ensure the availability of your business-critical communications environment.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager/CallManager Upgrade Services
Versions of Unified Communications Manager 8.6 lower than 8.6 and all versions of its predecessor CallManager have reached end-of-life. This means Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, fix, or validate this older software. Security patches for this business-critical product will end, which in some situations could create compliance or even potential liability issues.

Progent will continue to provide world-class support services for outdated editions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco CallManager, but in case your company is still running an out-of-dated release of this critical software you should start now to plan your upgrade. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants can help your company to upgrade efficiently to the latest edition of Unified Communications Manager and can typically save customers up to 50% off consulting fees versus most IT service firms thanks to Progent's documented process and experience in this area. By adhering to leading practices, Progent can ensure that your business gets a fast payback on your investment by showing you how to benefit fully from the enhanced feature set, lower management and support expense, more engaging collaboration capabilities, and stronger data protection offered by the latest release of Cisco Unified CM.

Progent's upgrade consulting services include return-on-investment analysis, project management or co-management, pilot testing and validation, Cloud connectivity, setting up collaboration endpoints from Cisco and third-party suppliers, mobile integration, security and compliance services, streamlined management, disaster recovery planning, network architecture design, training, and continuing consulting and troubleshooting. Progent also offers fixed-priced upgrade packages to keep your costs visible and under control.

For additional details concerning Progent's professional support for Cisco products, pick a topic:

To ask Progent about consulting assistance for Cisco technology, phone 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.