Cisco launches VoIP line for businesses
Cisco Systems launched seven new IP (Internet Protocol) telephony products for businesses on Monday, based on its Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated
Data (AVVID) network infrastructure.
As part of its aim to create a global VoIP (voice-over-IP) network, Cisco announced
three software products aimed at increasing personal productivity.
The Cisco Personal Assistant, an IP-based telephony application, interoperates
with Cisco CallManager and Microsoft's Exchange to allow users to verbally
sort through voice mail and dial by name. The software has a browser-based interface
and allows users to set up rules of call forwarding and screening calls, as
well as setting up conference calls without dialing. The Cisco Personal Assistant,
available now, retails for $4,995 and includes the Cisco IP Phone Productivity
Services Suite, Cisco said in a statement.
The company also launched Cisco Unity 2.46 unified messaging. The software
includes worldwide time zone and language support, as well as localization capabilities.
The unified messaging application works with both legacy-circuit and packet-based
switches. It can manage email, voice mail, and faxes through a single inbox
from any device, including IP phones, cellular phones and PCs. Unity is interoperable
with Cisco Personal Assistant and Cisco CallManager 3.1. Unity is available
immediately, and pricing starts at $145 per seat, the company said.
The final personal productivity application announced Monday is the Cisco IP
Phone Productivity Services (PPS) suite. The suite of applications based on
XML (Extensible Markup Language) can effectively turn the Cisco 7960 and 7940
IP phones into Internet thin-client devices that can provide access to corporate
and Internet Web servers. The phones can then also be used for functions like
email, voice mail, calendar, and stock quotes. A development suite called the
E-Service Application Engine lets developers create applications aimed at specific
business needs. The application suite will be available in the third quarter
of this year.
For customer service in small call centers within an enterprise, Cisco launched
the IP Integrated Contact Distribution (IP-ICD). The application includes automated
call distribution and custom contact interaction management for up to 48 agents.
IP-ICD works with Cisco IP Interactive Voice Response and IP Automated Attendant
applications. The IP-ICD is available immediately for $4,995.
Cisco also launched an updated version of CallManager, its software-based call
processing system. CallManager 3.1 adds 15 new features, including hold music
and extension mobility, which allows an employee's phone extension to be transferred
to any of Cisco's 7960 or 7940 IP phones. CallManager 3.1 is available immediately
for $5,995.
Cisco also introduced its Survivable Remote Site (SRS) Telephony application
on Monday. SRS ensures against WAN (wide area network) failure by auto-configuring
Cisco multiservice routers to provide call-processing backup for IP phones in
branch offices. When the WAN comes back online, the system automatically shifts
call-processing functions back to the centrally located CallManager. SRS Telephony
is available now on the Cisco 2600 and 3600 series routers and the Catalyst
4224 Voice Gateway Switch.
On the hardware side, Cisco launched the Catalyst 4224 Voice Gateway Switch
platform, an integrated Ethernet switching, IP routing and voice gateway device
targeted at small branch offices with up to 24 users, Cisco said in a statement.
The Catalyst 4224 can be used with Cisco SRS Telephony to provide backup services
in the event of a WAN failure. The Catalyst 4224 retails for $12,995.
» posted by ITworld staff
IDG News Service
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