The Cisco® Unified Communications family of products includes robust IP telephony capabilities. Cisco IP Telephony solutions use a single network infrastructure for the transmission of data, voice, and video traffic, delivering the business benefits of a converged network (increased productivity, greater business flexibility, and reduced operating costs) to businesses of all sizes. With new releases of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly Cisco Unified CallManager) and Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (formerly Cisco Unified CallManager Express), Cisco continues to add features and services, improve installation and maintenance, and introduce support for exciting new applications, such as those provided through Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
Product Name Changes
In March 2006, Cisco introduced a new portfolio of products, the Cisco Unified Communications system of products. Cisco continues the evolution of the portfolio in March 2007 by further refining several product names within the Cisco Unified Communications system. Cisco is changing the name of Cisco Unified CallManager and Cisco Unified CallManager Express to Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express. The change from "CallManager" to "Communications Manager" allows the names of these products to more accurately reflect the functions they represent: world-class call processing, plus video, mobility, and presence applications and more. Existing mobility applications Cisco Unified Mobile Connect and Cisco Unified MobilityManager have been renamed Cisco Unified Mobility, and Cisco Unified Presence Server has been renamed Cisco Unified Presence.
With these changes and the new products and enhancements being introduced, the Cisco Unified Communications system continues to evolve to provide the structure and intelligence that helps organizations securely integrate their communications more closely with business processes and ensure that information reaches recipients quickly, through the most appropriate medium. You will see these new product names reflected starting in March 2007.
Cisco Unified Communications System for Medium Business
Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition
Q. What is the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition?
A. Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition is an all-in-one solution specifically designed and purpose-built to meet the unique needs and budgets of medium-sized businesses. It provides the world-class call processing of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly Cisco Unified CallManager) along with Cisco Unity® Connection on a single server, simplifying installation and management.
Q. What are the advantages of buying this all-in-one solution compared to buying Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco Unity Connection separately?
A. Some of the advantages of buying the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition instead of buying the components separately relate to lower cost of acquisition because of the use of a single server. Deployment is much easier with a single server, and the associated support costs are lower because of the use of a single administration terminal and reduced hardware requirements.
Q. What is the anticipated first customer shipment (FCS) timeframe for the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition?
A. The FCS date for the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition is May 2007.
Q. How many users will the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition support?
A. The Cisco Unified Communications Manager Business Edition supports up to 500 users.
Cisco Unified Communications Applications
Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator
Q. What is Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator?
A. An integral part of the Cisco Unified Communications family of products, Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator is an easy-to-use, mobile application that helps enable more effective communications. By extending your most frequently used communications applications and services to mobile phones and smart phones, Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator streamlines the communication experience, helping you work smarter and faster. With Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator, you can place and receive calls as well as access company directory contacts, presence information, voicemail messages, Cisco Unified MeetingPlace® notifications, and other vital information-all from a single, intuitive interface connected to Cisco Unified Communications Manager.
Q. Can you provide some examples of how this solution would be used?
A. Anyone who regularly uses a mobile phone or smart phone to talk to colleagues can benefit from Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator. Typical end users are highly mobile employees such as those in sales, service, and operations who spend a significant amount of time away from traditional desktop environments and need to collaborate frequently across distributed or cross-functional teams. By allowing people to deliver timely and relevant information to mobile phones and dramatically reduce the time required for people to coordinate voice conversations, Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator improves organizational communication, eliminates delays in business processes, and allows employees to be more responsive to daily business demands.
Q. What are the primary features of Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator?
A. Cisco Unified Mobile Communicator extends office communications capabilities to mobile phones and smart phones with a single, intuitive interface that provides the capability to search your corporate directory and personal contacts; dial from the contact list with the press of a button; view the real-time presence status of other users; send and receive secure text messages; access Cisco Unity voicemail messages to view, play back, and delete messages; and receive notifications of conference calls on your mobile phone from Cisco Unified MeetingPlace.
Cisco Unified Personal Communicator
Q. What is new in Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2?
A. Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2 offers single-party instant messaging between both Cisco Unified Personal Communicator users and Cisco IP Phone Messenger users. It also introduces a new Microsoft Outlook toolbar that allows users to click to dial or send an instant message from within their Outlook contacts list or e-mail. In addition, Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2 users can now display availability information based on their Outlook Exchange calendars. Additional usability and presence enhancements include persistent away states, alerts, and a message-waiting indicator. Scalability enhancements, up to 5,000 users per Cisco Unified Presence Server cluster, and support for Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Web Conferencing and Cisco Unity voicemail are also included.
Q. When will Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2 be available?
A. Cisco Unified Personal Communicator is planned to be available in mid 2007.
Q. Can Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2 integrate with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace and Cisco Unity solutions?
A. Yes, Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2 will support Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 for Web Conferencing capabilities. It also introduces support for Cisco Unity voice messaging capabilities. In addition, Cisco Unified Personal Communicator 1.2 will continue to support Cisco Unity Connection, Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express, and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express VT.
Cisco Unified Presence (formerly known as Cisco Unified Presence Server) 6.0
Q. What are the new features introduced with Cisco Unified Presence Version 6.0?
A. The main features of this new release include Microsoft Outlook Calendar integration, enhanced integration for mobile employees with the capability to share the status of mobile phones (Wi-Fi and GSM) connected to Cisco Unified Communications Manager, and support for the Cisco Unified Application Environment, which allows user reachability, device availability, and user status to be incorporated into applications.
Q. What capabilities will the Microsoft Outlook Calendar integration provide?
A. Microsoft Outlook users can now use their free or busy time to automatically maintain their availability and presence. Also, Cisco IP Phone Messenger users can receive meeting notifications and participant lists and join conference calls through the single-click-join feature.
Cisco Unified Callconnector Mobility
Q. What is Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility?
A. Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility for Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express brings business calls to workers at their current location and to the phone of their choice. An optional part of the Cisco Unified CallConnector family of products, Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility is an add-on server application that integrates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express to monitor incoming business calls and then route or bridge them based on user-specified call-handling rules. Whether at home or at remote locations, employees can place and receive calls through Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express and use the business's Cisco Unified Communications infrastructure.
Q. When is Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility available?
A. The planned FCS date is Q1CY2007.
Q. What are some of the features of Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility?
A. Features include the following:
• Single-number reach-Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express users can now provide a single phone number to their business contacts and be immediately connected to their business calls at the most convenient and available telephone.
• Single voicemail box-If the user is unreachable at the specified single business number, Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility will forward the call to voice mail, using the Cisco Unity Express or Cisco Unity solution.
• User-customizable rules for routing-Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility s fully integrated with the Cisco Unified CallConnector for Microsoft Office toolbars to allow users to set up rules based on availability and location to specify the reach numbers and routing for business calls.
• Integration with presence status-Call-handling automation rules can be based on the presence status of the user; as the status changes, call-routing rules are triggered automatically. The Cisco Unified CallConnector for Microsoft Office allows users to change both availability (available, busy, away, or unavailable) and location (work, home, on the road, etc.), which can also set call-routing rules.
• Device switching without interrupting calls-With Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility, single-number-reach calls can be bridged on the IP phone to allow mobile workers to continue the call after they arrive at the office and take advantage of speakerphone or other IP phone services. The call can be continued at either device without interruption, and users can use the best available IP phone or mobile device.
Q. What are the differences between Cisco Unified CallConnector Mobility and Cisco Unified Mobility Manager?
A. Cisco Unified Mobility (formerly known as Cisco Unified Mobility Manager) is supported on Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express systems and designed and competitively priced specifically for the small and medium-sized business (SMB) or branch office. Cisco Unified Mobility is supported on Cisco Unified Communications Manager systems.
Cisco IP Communicator 2.1
Q. What is new in Cisco IP Communicator 2.1?
A. Cisco IP Communicator makes business mobility easy, allowing users to be anywhere and have the same telephony capabilities as they have at their desks. With Cisco IP Communicator Release 2.1, Cisco IP Communicator can be deployed as a SIP endpoint on Cisco Unified Communications Manager. This new release also delivers significant audio quality and security enhancements. Cisco IP Communicator 2.1 is easy to manage and maintain with automatic software updates and unified administration with Cisco Unified IP Phones.
Q. Who should use Cisco IP Communicator?
A. Cisco IP Communicator is for users who require a supplemental telephone when traveling, telecommuting, or away from their desks. When using Cisco IP Communicator remotely, users are not only taking their office extensions with them, but they also have access to the same familiar phone services as in the office.
Q. Will Cisco IP Communicator 2.1 be supported on Cisco Unified Communications Manager 6.0?
A. Cisco IP Communicator 2.1 will offer support for the upcoming release (Release 6.0) of Cisco Unified Communications Manager. However, some features may not be available. For more information, please refer to the Cisco IP Communicator release notes.
Cisco Unified Meetingplace Express 2.0
Q. What new capabilities will be delivered with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 and when will this release be available?
A. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 integrates video with scheduled and reservationless voice and Web conferencing and also adds new capabilities that provide enhanced security and improved usability. Availability is planned for May 2007. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 offers these features:
• Integrated video-Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 delivers enhanced collaboration and interactivity with scheduled and reservationless voice, video, and Web conferencing. The multiparty video function provides video switching that allows video participants to see the person who is speaking or last spoke. The solution supports common industry protocols-Skinny Call Control Protocol (SCCP), H.323, and SIP-to provide connectivity with a range of video endpoints. Release 2.0 also optimizes audio bandwidth with the addition of G.729a support.
• Enhanced security-Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 provides flexible and secure Web conferencing with a multiserver deployment solution that allows users to isolate internal Web meetings behind the firewall, while making Web meetings with partners, customers, and suppliers Internet accessible. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 also adds support for Cisco Security Agent.
• Improved usability-Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 provides tighter integration with other Cisco Unified Communications solutions, such as automatic Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express login when dialing in from a recognized telephone number.
• Additional languages-Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 adds support for Chinese (China and Taiwan), Spanish (Latin America and Spain), Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Danish, and Portuguese (Brazil). Support for these languages will be available in a maintenance release following the FCS of Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0.
Q. How do the videoconferencing capabilities differ between Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 and Cisco Unified Videoconferencing?
A. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 provides simple voice-activated video switching using a single codec and a single bit rate per meeting that allows video participants to see the person who is speaking or last spoke. The solution supports common industry protocols-SCCP, H.323, and SIP-to allow connectivity with a range of video endpoints. Cisco Unified Videoconferencing is a hardware-based solution for midsized to large organizations with more advanced video conferencing needs. It can be used to provide multipoint videoconferencing in Cisco Unified Communications Manager video telephony environments, as part of a Cisco Unified MeetingPlace solution, or as a standalone video conferencing solution. Cisco Unified Videoconferencing provides advanced capabilities such as transcoding, transrating, and continuous presence with support for multiple layouts.
Q. Will existing Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express customers be able to add support for scheduled and reservationless video to their systems?
A. Customers with Cisco Unified Software Subscription or Software Application Support plus Upgrades (SASU) contracts will be able to upgrade to the Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0 software at no additional charge. Those without an upgrade subscription will be able to purchase the software upgrade. To support video beyond any capacity included in the base Release 2.0 offering, customers will need to purchase additional licenses, and depending on the model and capacity of their existing system, they may need to upgrade to a different server configuration. Capacity specifications will be available by the FCS of Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0.
Cisco Unified Meetingplace 6.0
Q. What new capabilities will be delivered with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 and when will this release be available?
A. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 provides new Adobe Flash¬-based Web conferencing that delivers an enhanced user experience and broader application support. Availability is planned for April 2007. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 offers the following features:
• Exceptional experience-The new Web conferencing is built using Adobe Flash technology, which helps ensure rapid and reliable meeting entry. Shared content scales to any screen resolution so that the content being shared always fits in your meeting-room window. The full-screen mode lets you maximize your view of the content. Whether on a Windows, Macintosh, Linux, or Solaris platform, users can easily participate in Web conferences and experience a consistent interface.
• Broad application support-Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 Web conferencing supports a wide variety of conferencing applications and user needs with the following features:
• Meeting templates for different meeting types (collaboration, presentation, or Web seminar) and user roles (moderator, presenter, or attendee)
• Animations in presentations
• User status icons for providing verbal feedback to presenters
• Scalability for large Web meetings of more than 1000 in a single meeting
• Additional interactivity functions: chat, moderated Q&A, and polling
The release also adds interoperability and security functions, such as impromptu Web conferencing from Cisco Unified Personal Communicator and support for Cisco Security Agent.
Q. Will Cisco Unified Personal Communicator interoperate with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0?
A. Yes. Cisco Unified Personal Communicator provides Web conferencing capabilities through integration with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express, Unified MeetingPlace Express VT, and Unified MeetingPlace 6.0. When Cisco Unified Personal Communicator is integrated with these solutions, a user in a conversation can launch a Web meeting room by clicking the Start Web Conferencing button. If both people in the conversation have the Cisco Unified Personal Communicator client running, the Web meeting room launches automatically, and other users can easily be sent a link to join the Web meeting. When Cisco Unified Personal Communicator is integrated with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0, meeting participants can share applications, share desktops, and upload presentations with remote control capabilities. When integrated with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express VT, participants can share only applications and desktops.
Q. How does Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 Web conferencing differ from Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express Web conferencing?
A. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 Web conferencing provides a comprehensive Web conferencing experience suitable for day-to-day collaborative meetings, internal and external presentations, and large-scale Web seminars. Table 1 lists the main feature differences between Cisco Unified MeetingPlace and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express.
Table 1. Differences between Cisco Unified MeetingPlace and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express
Features
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express 2.0
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0
Application sharing
Yes
Yes
Whiteboard
Yes
Yes
Integrated audio controls
Yes
Yes
Show who is speaking
Yes
Yes
Show who is sharing
Yes
Yes
Chat
Yes
Yes
Notes
Yes
Yes
Voice recording
Yes
Yes
Full-screen mode
Yes
Yes
Autoresizing of shared window
Yes
Yes
Annotations
Yes
Yes
Segmented meeting access
Yes
Yes
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) support
Yes
Yes
Upload presentations
No
Yes
Remote control
No
Yes
File sharing tool
No
Yes
Meeting templates
No
Yes
Customizable layouts
No
Yes
Polling
No
Yes
Presenter-only area
No
Yes
Web links tool
No
Yes
Moderated Q&A
No
Yes
Move to audio breakout sessions
No
Yes
Integrated voice and Web recording
No
Yes
Mute all
No
Yes
Modify meeting entry and exit announcements
No
Yes
Dial out to video terminals (room-based and desktop)
No
Yes
Modify video layouts
No
Yes
Pause video image
No
Yes
Modify individual's speaking ability
No
Yes
Web server clustering for large meetings
No
Yes
Invite participants by permission
No
Yes
Automatic failover of Web conferences
No
Yes
Edge server for WAN bandwidth optimization
No
Yes
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Microsoft Office Communicator
Q. What is Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Microsoft Office Communicator and when will it be available?
A. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Microsoft Office Communicator is a new integration option that helps organizations improve collaboration and speed business processes by using presence and instant messaging for fast and easy impromptu conferencing. Availability is planned for April 2007.
Directly from Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Microsoft Office Communicator, users can do the following:
• Use presence to determine other user's availability to meet
• Initiate impromptu voice conferences on Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0
• Invite users and connect (outdial) to the voice conference
• Control the voice conference (for example, mute, eject, lock, or end the conference)
Q. What other integrations are available between Cisco Unified MeetingPlace and Microsoft offerings?
A. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace provides multiple integrations with Microsoft applications, including Microsoft Outlook for simple conference setup and attendance and Active Directory for enhanced system administration and security and an improved user experience by providing an automated means for creating and updating Cisco Unified MeetingPlace user databases.
Q. How does Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Microsoft Office Communicator differ from the integration between Cisco Unified Personal Communicator and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0?
A. Cisco Unified Personal Communicator provides Web conferencing capabilities through integration with Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express, Unified MeetingPlace Express VT, and Unified MeetingPlace 6.0. When Cisco Unified Personal Communicator is integrated with these solutions, a user in a conversation can launch a Web meeting room by clicking the Start Web Conferencing button. Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for Microsoft Office Communicator allows users to Initiate impromptu voice conferences on Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 6.0 and to control the voice conference (for example, mute, eject, lock, or end the conference).
Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1
Q. What new capabilities will be delivered with Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 and when will this release be available?
A. Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 provides added solution flexibility and enhanced security with support for high-definition endpoints, a new capacity-planning option, and expanded encryption capabilities. Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 offers these features:
• High-definition support-Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 provide interoperability with high-definition (720p) video endpoints from leading industry videoconferencing vendors. The video switching function supports multiparty conferences between high-definition-capable endpoints.
• Capacity flexibility-A new configuration option lets organizations increase their capacity over a portion of their Cisco Unified Videoconferencing system by limiting connection speeds to 384 Kbps. This option is useful for situations that primarily use desktop endpoints, such as video telephony.
• Security-Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 lets organizations extend existing H.235 Data Encryption Standard (DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128-bit encryption to ISDN endpoints for investment protection of older ISDN deployments.
Q. Will Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 support high-definition and standard-definition endpoints in a single meeting, and what is the difference between high definition and standard definition?
A. The initial high-definition support being provided by Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 will provide switching support only. This means that high-definition endpoints can join conferences only with other high-definition endpoints where voice activated, full-screen video switching is provided. The transcoding, transrating, and continuous presence features for high-definition endpoints will be provided in a subsequent release and will allow standard-definition and high-definition endpoints to participate in the same conference.
Standard definition (SD) refers to the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) system screen resolutions up to and including 704 x 480 lines of resolution with an aspect ratio of 4:3, which include Quarter Common Intermediate Format (QCIF; 176 x 120), Common Intermediate Format (CIF; 352 x 240), and 4CIF (74 x 480) screen resolutions. Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.0 and 5.1 support full transcoding and transrating of these resolutions with all continuous presence features on every port.
The high-definition (HD) standard dictates a 16:9 screen aspect ratio, and there are two currently defined screen resolutions for high-definition video-1280 x 720 and 1920 x 1080-either of which can be interlaced or progressively scanned. The current HD videoconferencing endpoint market offers up to 720p (1280 x 720 progressive) resolution using H.264 as the video codec, and these endpoints are supported by Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1.
Q. Will Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 5.1 support multipoint meetings for the Cisco TelePresence solution?
A. No. However, Cisco is developing a new offering that will provide multilocation video switching capabilities for the Cisco TelePresence solution. The solution is based on the Cisco Unified Videoconferencing platform and is scheduled for release in the first half of 2007.
Cisco Telepresence Multipoint Solutions-Cisco Telepresence Multipoint Switch and Cisco Unified Conferncing for Telepresence
Q. What are the Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch and Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence?
A. The Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch and Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence are two separate solutions that connect three or more Cisco TelePresence systems in a meeting. Both solutions are designed to preserve the exceptional Cisco TelePresence experience by allowing all participants to be seen in life-size, high-definition (1080p) images and heard in CD-quality spatial audio. To display participants in multiple locations, both solutions offer voice-activated switching on a site-by-site basis as well as by individual table segment.
Q. How do the Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch and Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence compare?
A. The Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch is a purpose-built, easy-to-install appliance that was designed and built solely to provide multilocation Cisco TelePresence capabilities. Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence is designed to extend meeting access beyond the Cisco TelePresence meeting room by integrating other voice, Web (future), and traditional video (future) solutions. Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence is based on Cisco Unified Videoconferencing and Cisco Unified MeetingPlace® technology. Table 2 provides a comparison of the two products.
Table 2. Comparison of Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence and Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch
Audio-only participants can dial into or be dialed from a Cisco TelePresence endpoint
Web conferencing
In a future release, Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence will include integrated, multiparty Web conferencing and Cisco TelePresence Graphics sharing. Currently, a separate Web conferencing solution must be used to connect participants.
• Cisco TelePresence Graphics sharing
• PC connected to in-room projector displayed to all rooms
• A separate Web conferencing solution must be used to connect participants outside the Cisco TelePresence meeting rooms
Connection of other (not Cisco TelePresence) video participants
In a future release, Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence will include integrated multipoint connectivity with standards-based, traditional video
Use Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence to integrate traditional video systems
Conference setup
• Reserve Cisco TelePresence endpoints and capacity on the Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence system directly from Microsoft Outlook
• Reserve Cisco TelePresence endpoints directly from Microsoft Outlook calendar
• Initiate impromptu meetings by dialing from the directory or by manually dialing the number of the room
Conference attendance
• Cisco TelePresence and audio-only participants dial a single number and are connected
• The one-button Cisco TelePresence attendance feature will be delivered in mid 2007
• One button push initiates scheduled calls
• Initiate impromptu meetings by dialing from the directory or by manually dialing the number of the room
• No action is required by the parties being called
Solution architecture and components
Cisco Unified Videoconferencing multipoint control unit (MCU) and software running on a Cisco MCS 9000 family server
• Cisco software-based solution running on a Cisco MCS 9000 family server
• Web-based administration with roles and profiles
Q. When will the Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch and Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence be available?
A. Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence will be available in March 2007, and the Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch will be available by May 2007.
Q. What is the capacity of the multipoint Cisco TelePresence solutions?
A. Both Cisco Unified Conferencing for TelePresence and the Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch will scale to 36 video streams in a single server where a single stream connects to an individual Cisco TelePresence screen. Users can connect 36 individual screens, 12 three-screen systems, or a mix of both.
Q. How do the solutions determine what to show on the video screens?
A. The system uses voice-activated switching, which displays video associated with the last person speaking. There are two modes of voice-activated switching: site-by-site switching, in which the entire location of the active speaker is displayed across all screens, and switching by the individual table segment where the active speaker is seated. Users can change the configuration on a per-meeting basis to reflect their preferences.
Cisco Unity 5.0
Q. What is Cisco Unity?
A. The Cisco Unity solution is a secure, proven, and reliable solution that delivers voice, integrated, and unified messaging options that integrate transparently with IBM Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise, and Microsoft Exchange. The Cisco Unity solution scales to meet the needs of large multisite organizations, supporting up to 250,000 users in a networked environment, and can be deployed in a centralized or decentralized communications model.
Q. What are the top new features in Cisco Unity 5.0?
A. The focus of Cisco Unity 5.0 is to improve the user experience with new productivity-enhancing features and to extend the security capabilities.
New productivity-enhancing features include the following:
• Message Monitor-Users can listen to and pick up calls while the caller is recording a message. For example, if you are on a call and another person calls and begins to leave a message, Message Monitor allows you to end your original call and pick up the new call while the caller is still recording the message.
• Interrupted-session recovery-Users can return to in-progress messages if the session drops. For example, if you are retrieving your messages and are interrupted, instead of later dialing back into the system to start over, with session recovery, if you dial back into the system within a predetermined period of time, you can continue where you left off.
• Speech access-Users can address voice messages by speaking the name of the person and using "press or say" commands to navigate menus and manage voice messages.
• Personalization options-Nine new settings are configurable on a per-user basis, including the capability to set the number of seconds that the Cisco Unity solution rewinds or fast-forwards a message during playback.
New security additions enhance secure messaging:
• Message encryption option prevents accidental disclosure of information in voice messages by requiring a user to play back the message on an authorized device connected to the network.
• Encrypted messages can be played back with View Mail for Outlook and Cisco Personal Communications Assistant.
• Configurable message expiration setting defines the duration a message is valid for decryption, helping enforce message retention policies.
• Messages can be encrypted and decrypted in real time.
Q. Does Cisco Unity 5.0 support Cisco Unity 4.2 features?
A. Yes. Cisco Unity 5.0 supports all Cisco Unity 4.2 features, including capability for mixed deployments of voice, integrated, and unified messaging and alternative device recognition. Alternative device recognition allows users to add devices, such as mobile phones, that are automatically recognized by the Cisco Unity solution when that device is used to check messages. Users will experience the same streamlined message interface as if they were checking messages from their desk phone and will only be required to enter their password.
Cisco Unity Connection 2.0
Q. What is Cisco Unity Connection?
A. Cisco Unity Connection is a feature-rich voice and integrated messaging solution that is simple to install, configure, and manage and scales to meet the needs of organizations with up to 3000 users.
Q. What are the main new features in Cisco Unity Connection 2.0?
A. The following features and capabilities are new with Cisco Unity Connection 2.0:
• For organizations with up to 500 users, Cisco Unity Connection 2.0 is available as a single-server solution with Cisco Unified Communications Manager 6.0.
• Networking capabilities allow up to 10 Cisco Unity, Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Unity Express systems to be connected, allowing users to easily reply to, forward, and compose new messages between sites.
• New speech recognition enhancements allow users to pause, resume, skip, speed up, or slow down messages simply by speaking the command.
• Users can check and attend Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express meetings from within Cisco Unity Connection 2.0.
Q. Will Cisco Unity Connection 2.0 support desktop message access?
A. Yes. Cisco Unity Connection 2.0 will continue to provide multiple ways to access messages from a user's desktop. Desktop message options include the following:
• Cisco Unified Personal Communicator: Unified communications client
• Cisco Unity Assistant: Web browser interface
• E-mail client such as Microsoft Outlook without Exchange and Active Directory
Q. Where can I find more information about Cisco Unity messaging solutions?
A. Cisco Unity Express is a cost-effective voicemail and automated attendant solution for enterprise branch offices, retail locations, and SMBs. Cisco Unity Express interoperates with Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express and Cisco Unified Communications Manager and is suited for branch-office deployments with centralized Cisco Unified Communications Manager where quality of service (QoS) or WAN bandwidth is not optimized.
Q. When will Cisco Unity Express 3.0 be available?
A. The planned FCS is Q2CY2007.
Q. What are some of the new features supported on Cisco Unity Express 3.0?
A. Cisco Unity Express 3.0 offers a variety of enhancements:
• Interactive voice response (IVR) capabilities for efficient call routing and an improved customer experience
• Support for fax messages
• Support for outcalling to nonsubscribers
• Easier administration with a simpler, more comprehensive GUI to define and customize the automated attendant call flow and an administrator dashboard view for mailbox assignment, status and use information, etc.
