Hello from Fran

October 2005

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding Cisco IP Communications

Hello from Fran Hello! Are we providing a newsletter you can leverage? Do you scan the newsletter and find useful information? This newsletter is for YOU, the consultant community, as a resource of information, product announcements and news you can use. Please provide your input to information you would like included in the newsletter. Send a quick e-mail to: [email protected] so we can better serve your needs. Included this month you will find Cisco answering your clients’ needs for IPC management tools, which will also be the highlight of our Monthly Webinar on October 26th. The Cisco IP Phone 7961G and Cisco IP Phone 7941G are introduced providing higher-resolution, improved text and graphics. In addition, you will find Cisco success stories and major events that highlighted in the press. Plan to join us for the monthly Webinars: October 26, 2005 Cisco’s New IPC Management tools November 16, 2005 Cisco Connected Real Estate (managing Real Estate assets) Mark your calendars for the Fall Deep Dive series: November 11 and 18 December 2, 9 and 16 We are completing the Deep Dive topic list; please let us know the topic you would like to hear! Thank you for your interest in Cisco, we look forward to hearing from you! Safe travels! Fran

Fran Blackburn Cisco Systems, Inc. IP Communications Consultant Liaison Program Manager Phone: 970-231-3391 [email protected] – Consultant HOTLINE

CLP team members also here to assist you:

Charlotte Woods: 901-753-3324

Denise Brittin: 972-813-1367

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding Cisco IP Communications

Contents HELLO FROM FRAN...... 1 CONTENTS ...... 2 FEATURE STORY: CISCO’S NEW IPC MANAGEMENT TOOLS...... 3 PRODUCT UPDATES ...... 4 IPC VERTICAL SUCCESS STORIES ...... 6 CISCO IN THE NEWS ...... 7 IPC IN THE NEWS ...... 9 NORTH AMERICA NEWS ...... 10 NORTH AMERICA AVVID ACCESS – October 26, 2005 Webinar ...... 10 11 am Eastern, 10 am Central, 9 am Mountain, 8am Pacific...... 10 APAC NEWS ...... 11 TECHNICAL TIPS...... 11 CUSTOMER IMPLEMENTATIONS...... 12 Cisco.com holds multiple customer stories available for review...... 12 EVENTS ...... 12 CTCA, Canadian Telecommunication Consultants Association...... 12 Cisco DEEP DIVES return in the Fall!...... 12 CONSULTANT RESOURCE...... 12

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications

Feature Story: Cisco’s New IPC Management Tools Introducing: CiscoWorks IP Communications Operations Manager & Service Monitor More and more businesses today are migrating voice communications applications to their data network in order to reap the productivity and cost-saving benefits of a converged network. Unlike legacy PBX vendors that emphasize hybrid solutions, which ultimately limit the capabilities of the network, the flexible and scalable IP Communications System from Cisco provides customers the most immediate and comprehensive productivity-enhancing and cost-effective communications possible. As IP communications and data networks converge, network management has become essential. The converged network must be secure and resilient while providing significant and immediate productivity gains for voice and data management as well as end users. The IP communications solution must be easy to provision and easy to manage, increasing the IT staff productivity gains. In addition, because the IP communications solution is more than just voice and data, but rather a suite of voice applications, it is imperative that the IP communications management solution provide a dashboard view into the status of the entire solution. Cisco Systems recently announced the new CiscoWorks IP communications management solution that consists of two applications to meet these needs. The CiscoWorks IP Communications Operations Manager provides a unified view of the entire IP communications infrastructure and presents the current operational status of each element of the IP communications network. It continuously monitors the current operational status of different IP communications elements, such as Cisco CallManager, Cisco CallManager Express, Cisco Unity, Cisco Unity Express, Cisco IP Contact Center, gateways, routers, and phones, and provides diagnostic capabilities for faster trouble isolation and resolution. The IPC Operations Manager is the single dashboard view of the entire solution.

CiscoWorks IP Communications Service Monitor provides a low-cost, reliable method of monitoring and evaluating the quality of IP communications-based telephony to optimize the user experience. It continuously monitors active calls and provides real-time notification if the voice quality of a call fails to meet a user-defined quality metric. By identifying the problem quickly, the Service Monitor makes it easy to debug in real time rather than long after the problem has occurred.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications

The Service Monitor uses the Cisco 1040 sensor to collect information on active phone calls. The Cisco 1040 plugs into the span port on a switch and receives Power over Ethernet (POE) for operation. The 1040 sensor then configures itself and starts collecting information on phone calls. The Service Monitor provides alerts in real-time for calls that have exceeded user-defined thresholds— displaying mean opinion scores (MOS) and probable causes for the event.

Together, the CiscoWorks IPC Operations Manager and the Service Monitor provide the tools needed for efficient and effective management of the entire IPC Solution. For more information, see our flash presentation at www.cisco.com/cdc_content_elements/flash/ipcomm/index.html

Product Updates

Introducing: Cisco IP Phone 7961G and 7941G

The Cisco IP Phone 7961G and the Cisco IP Phone 7941G are now orderable, providing enhanced functionality for both managers and business workers, and integrating new features within our proven industrial design. The Cisco IP Phone 7961G and Cisco IP Phone 7941G include higher-resolution (320x222), 4-bit grayscale displays, enabling improved text and graphics display, along with a host of innovative productivity-driven applications to boost employee productivity, improve customer satisfaction, and greatly augment business processes. Both the Cisco IP Phone 7961G and Cisco IP Phone 7941G offer IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) as a powering option.

Features Include:

• Higher resolution pixel-based 4-bit grayscale display for vivid text and graphics display • Back-lit buttons (six on Cisco IP Phone 7961G, two on Cisco IP Phone 7941G) for directory numbers or Speed Dial access. Dynamic tri-color buttons provide straightforward call state identification • IEEE 802.3af inline power (Class 2) plus continued support for Cisco inline power (may optionally use local power supply) • G.711 and G.729a audio compression • Background screen image selection.

To learn more about Cisco IP Phone 7961G, click here. To learn more about Cisco IP Phone 7941G, click here.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications

Introducing Cisco MobilityManager Server & Mobile Connect Service Adding to the industry-leading broad portfolio of Cisco IP Communications Solutions, The Cisco MobilityManager server and Mobile Connect service applications are now orderable. Cisco MobilityManager is the application server software that will deliver Mobile Connect, Mobile Voice Access and other mobility services. Cisco MobilityManager runs on the MCS-7815 server with Release 1.1 software. Mobile Connect is the end-user mobility service that delivers the single number, single voice mailbox, device mobility functionality. Cisco MobilityManager (MCS-7815) can support up to 1000 users per Cisco MobilityManager (MCS-7815) (server based on 6CCS). Mobile Connect features include: • Simultaneous ring • Multiple remote destinations (up to 4 – mobile, home, etc.) • Desktop call pickup • Mobile phone call pickup • Mobile Voice Access • Remote on/off • Allowed/Blocked call filters • Caller ID (given service provider support) • System administration controllable user profile access • Web-based administration for system administration and end-user • No changes required with mobile phone or mobile cellular service provider • Cisco CallManger 4.X and 5.X compatible

Benefits of Mobile Connect Solution: • Increased responsiveness of mobile workers • Improved mobile workers’ ability to manage voice communications when out of the office. • Access to enterprise IPC network resources when mobile Enterprise IT / Telecom benefits with Mobile Connect: • Adds mobility functionality to Cisco CallManger installation • Leverages PSATN voice gateways and VoIP WAN resources to manage voice traffic • Provides secure system administration and end-user access To learn more about the Cisco MobilityManager server and Mobile Connect service application, click here.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications

IPC Vertical Success Stories Finance – Greenstone Farm Credit Services Revolutionizes Customer Communications with Help from Cisco and Microsoft As part of the national Farm Credit System (FCS), Greenstone Farm Credit Services is a provider of agricultural loans, insurance, and financial services for 17, 000 customers in Michigan and Northeast Wisconsin. With approximately 400 employees, the organization has been a crucial resource farmers in agricultural community for since 1917. As Greenstone grows, so do the business challenges. Facing the organization was: The need to allow financial service officers more time to provide timely, comprehensive, and personalized service to customers. Integrate dozens of separate legacy phone systems to a single, integrated, cost- effective system. Unlock the full potential of Microsoft CRM. Greenstone Farm Credit Services chose Cisco Business Communications Solution, including Cisco routers, Cisco Catalyst switches, Cisco CallManger IP Communications platform and Cisco CRM Communications Connector to provide the link to Mircosoft CRM. The business value to Greenstone Farm Credit Services: One hundred percent return on investment within eight months, due to toll avoidance, reduced maintenance costs, and other phone system savings. Improved service to Greenstone FCS customers due to easy integration with Microsoft CRM. Provides long-term technology foundation to support future initiatives. To read the complete success story, click here.

Finance - Cisco Helps Power First Ever Mobile Credit Union People’s Federal Credit Union (FCU) is a not-for-profit financial cooperative based in Nitro, West Virginia. The organization, founded in 1965, has 26 employees and serves the banking needs of thousands of local members. People’s FCU faces some key business challenges: Serve a geographically scattered member base throughout many small communities. Grow and increase business in underserved areas. They took a unique futuristic approach to serve their customer base with a mobile credit union branch. Teaming with Advanced Technical Solutions, a Cisco Premier Certified Partner and SMB Select Partner, resulted in a showcase of technology of the Cisco Business Communications Solution. Cisco Business Communications Solution is a smart, simple, secure set of integrated products and services that fully optimizes businesses today and in the future. The value to People’s Federal Credit Union: Ability to offer a full range of banking services to communities most in need, including outlying rural areas.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications Provide an efficient cost effective technology solution. Provides a platform to grow and expand their IP telephony and converged networking solutions as they incorporate sites in the future. To read the complete success story, click here.

Distribution - Tri-State Water Treatment’s Business Communications System Pays Back Big Dividends Thanks to Cisco SMB Partner AOS Global Tri-State Water Treatment, Inc. installs water and air treatment systems and provides services to improve the quality of water and air in its customers’ homes. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Tri-State Water opened its doors in 1992 and added another location two years later. Management was challenged to keep up with company growth. Their network infrastructure was outdated, old phones still used and the sales process was paper and pencil. Tri-State Water Treatment partnered with AOS Global to implement a Cisco IP Communications Solution, including CallManager and Cisco Unity Unified Messaging. Another key element of the solution was AOS Global’s development of custom XML applications to integrate with the Cisco solution to improve communications across the internal network and to customer prospects. Business value to Tri-State Water Treatment: • Eliminated or reduced paper processes to improve operational efficiencies. • Reduced toll charges placing calls across a data connection. • Customized out-bound call center application provided ability to target sales contacts and calls resulting in increased sales. To read more about Tri-State Water Treatment’s technology solution, click here.

Cisco in the News Cisco Sells its 6 Millionth IP phone as Worldwide Demand Soars for IP Communications

Australian bank Westpac takes delivery of Cisco's six- millionth phone; more than 300,000 Cisco phones sold in Australia

Sydney, September 21, 2005

Cisco Systems, Inc. has reached a major milestone in the IP Communications market with the sale of its six-millionth Internet Protocol (IP) phone worldwide and more than 300,000 devices sold in Australia. Cisco® Australia and New Zealand managing director, Ross Fowler, told media and industry analysts at Cisco's Australia and New Zealand Networkers event on the Gold Coast today that Westpac bank had taken possession of the six-millionth Cisco IP phone. Westpac, which has deployed more than 3000 Cisco 7970G color phones to date, joins a long list of major global customers including Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Boeing, and Ford Motor Company who have reduced operational expenses and improved productivity by adopting Cisco IP Communications.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications Mr. Fowler said that IP Communications has evolved to become a mainstream technology in all industries across the world.

To read more about this milestone in Cisco’s IP telephony solution, click here.

Cisco Extends Fixed-Mobile Converged Business Solutions with New Nokia Eseries Smartphones October 12, 2005 Cisco Systems today announced that it is extending key mobility features of its Internet Protocol (IP) Communications and Unified Wireless Network solutions to the new Nokia business-optimized devices based on Series 60 3rd edition software platform. In cooperation with Cisco, Nokia is integrating Cisco Compatible Extensions wireless client features, and is incorporating its client interface to Cisco IP Communications software. Together, this support enables Nokia Eseries smartphones, such as the Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70, to take full advantage of Cisco innovations for enhanced IP communication, security, mobility, quality of service, and network management. This collaboration will help enable mobile professionals to be more responsive and productive, with highly secure access to a rich array of business IP communications and collaboration applications. To read more details about this exciting collaboration, click here.

Cisco to Acquire Nemo Systems

October 3, 2005

Cisco Systems® today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Nemo Systems of Los Altos, Calif. Nemo Systems has developed leading-edge has developed leading-edge technology in the network memory space that will offer enhanced performance on Cisco's core switching platforms and service modules. Once incorporated into Cisco's products, the technology will allow customers to scale network systems and line card bandwidth while reducing the overall cost of high- performance networking systems. Upon close of the transaction, Nemo will become part of Cisco's Data Center, Switching and Security Technology Group (DSSTG) reporting to vice president and general manager Tom Edsall.

To read more about the most recent Cisco acquisition, click here.

Cisco Technology Provides UK’s First IP Video Call Centre for Deaf People Yahoo Finance News London, September 28, 2005 SignVideo (part of Significan't), Britain's only Video Contact Centre for deaf people has launched a specialist video service offering deaf people immediate access to highly qualified sign language interpreters to communicate with their local authorities and other public sector organizations. The contact centre has been developed using a converged voice and data network, based on Cisco's CallManager Video Telephony and Internet Protocol (IP) Contact Centre (IPCC) technology. To read more details about the video services to meet a unique business need, click here.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications

Cisco Ships Half a Million Integrated Services Routers and Achieves Fastest Product Ramp in Company History Cisco helps Pep Boys increase network flexibility, resiliency and security at its 593 retail locations September 23, 2005 Cisco Systems announced that it has reached a major milestone by shipping its 500,000th Cisco integrated services router to Pep Boys, the leading automotive aftermarket retailer and service chain in the United States. Pep Boys will use this advanced networking technology to reduce register transaction time and improve customer service processes. This milestone marks the fastest product ramp in Cisco history. It took Cisco six months to ship the first 100,000 integrated services routers, and another six months to reach 500,000. This rapid adoption proves that organizations want to integrate security, voice and wireless services concurrently into their network while maintaining high levels of performance. This helps allow them to protect, optimize and enhance their businesses while investing for future needs. "This milestone demonstrates Cisco's commitment to meeting the needs of its customers. The Cisco integrated services routers are the first in the industry to provide customers of all sizes with fast, highly secure, voice, video and data services," said Zeus Kerravala analyst of Yankee Group. "They meet the growing demands of customers looking for a more flexible, cost-efficient and easy-to-deploy network." To read more details about Pep Boys implementation of Cisco’s integrated services routers to support their business goals, click here.

IPC in the News VON Conference offers look at VoIP The Next Generation Network World September 26, 2005 Many speakers at the VON conference in Boston last week talked about what one called VoIP 2.0. If VoIP 1.0 was all about inexpensive calls, 2.0 is about integration and new applications, said Brad Garlinghouse, vice president of communications products at Yahoo. "VoIP by itself isn't it," he said. "It's all about new functionality."

To read more comments and opinions offered by speakers said at the Fall VON conference, click here.

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications NORTH AMERICA NEWS

NORTH AMERICA AVVID ACCESS – October 26, 2005 Webinar

11 am Eastern, 10 am Central, 9 am Mountain, 8am Pacific

Please join us to hear the details around Cisco’s new IPC Management tools:

• Hear Cisco’s answer to IPC Management Requirements • Hear about Cisco’s latest announcement of the CiscoWorks IPC Management tools • Take away an understanding of the value of this announcement to share with your clients

Click here to view a short flash presentation on the benefits Cisco’s new IPC Management tools can provide www.cisco.com/cdc_content_elements/flash/ipcomm/index.html

To Attend the MeetingPlace Voice Conference

1. Call MeetingPlace: • Toll-free (US only): 1-866-633-8638 • International Direct Dial: 1-650-260-9029 2. Press 1 to attend a meeting 3. Enter meeting ID (472257) followed by the # key 4. Enter the meeting password (472257) followed by the # key 5. Follow the prompts to join the audio conference

TEST YOUR BROWSER TODAY OR THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING

Visit (https://go.meetingplace.net) if you have not done so before, to test your web browser you will use in the meeting for compatibility with the web conference. Click on the "Browser Test" link at the bottom of the page to run the test. Turn off any pop-up stoppers, and click on the "START" the inspection now button on the bottom of the screen. This will inform you of any problems you might encounter.

Attend a MeetingPlace Web Conference

Go to https://go.meetingplace.net

1. Enter meeting ID (472257) and click ATTEND MEETING 2. Enter your name in the "My name is" box and click Attend Meeting 3. Enter the meeting password (472257) and click Submit 4. Click Yes to any Java warnings

Mark your calendar - November Webinar:

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications Please plan to participate in the November 16th Cisco AVVID Access Conference call to learn about Cisco Connected Real Estate - CCRE!

• What is CCRE? Why is this program of interest and value to the AVVID community? • Learn about the convergence of Real Estate and IT Solutions • Understand how to reduce Real Estate capital investment and operating costs using AVVID solutions • Expand your professional service offerings by supporting the "next wave of convergence" - Building Management System

APAC NEWS We are pleased to announce the following recently launched websites.

1) The Business Communications Solution Site The Cisco Business Communications Solutions (BCS) is the first complete communications system tailored for the small- to medium-sized businesses. For more information about Cisco’s Smart, Simple and Secure solution, please visit http://www.cisco.com/asiapac/campaigns/businessdialogue/index.shtml

2) The IPC Consultant Liaison Program Portal This is a site created specially for the IPC consultants.

The web portal enables you to: • Download past webinars. • Register for upcoming webinars. • Download archived newsletter.

For more information, please visit the consultant portal at http://www.cisco.com/asiapac/ipc/liason_index.shtml

Technical Tips Consultant Q&A HOTLINE: [email protected]

Question to the Consultant Hotline Recently, a consultant contacted the Consultant Email Hotline seeking for information about third party fax server integration with Cisco CallManager. We answered his request with information located on Cisco.com. If you would like to know more about fax server integration with CallManager, click here.

Packet Digital Edition

Your resource for access to Cisco AVVID news and information surrounding IP Communications Packet is the Cisco Systems technical user magazine for maximizing Internet and networking investments. New for you is Packet Digital Edition available each quarter with all the content of the print edition, plus interactive, multimedia content directly to your desktop. You can read the articles online or download to read anytime, anywhere. To see the new Packet Digital Edition, click here.

Cisco’s Interoperability Portal The Cisco Interoperability Portal is designed to help you interoperate with current architecture and applications when moving to Cisco IP Communications. This site has information on third party interoperability with Cisco products: To visit the Interoperability Portal, click here.

Tools and Tutorials Cisco provides a wide range of resources to help you understand networking, Internet business solutions, and other information that enable your company to take advantage of the Internet to effectively grow and compete To access out tools and tutorials page, click here.

Customer Implementations

Cisco.com holds multiple customer stories available for review. Cisco is constantly gathering a wealth of information on customer implementations and success stories, including companies like. To view these and other success stories, click here.

Events

CTCA, Canadian Telecommunication Consultants Association October 27-29, 2005 at Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff, Alberta http://www.ctca.ca

Cisco DEEP DIVES return in the Fall! Mark your calendar and plan to join us November 11 and 18, December 2, 9 and 16, 2005. 11 AM Eastern, 10 AM Central, 9 AM Mountain, 8 AM Pacific

Consultant Resource Consultant Q&A HOTLINE: [email protected]