The primary types of Unified Communications 500 Series components are grouped in the following categories:
Appliance
The Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series is the Unified Communications appliance that provides range of communications solutions in a single, unified package for small businesses.
The Unified Communications 500 Series includes the support for communication devices, including Cisco Unified IP Phones, wireless handsets, and SIP phones. In addition, it includes Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express and Cisco Unity Express for call processing; security, firewall, and VPN capabilities; optional built-in wireless access point; and support for analog devices, such as a fax machine. It comes with 8, 16, 32, and 48 user configurations.
The following are the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series models:
Table 1Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series User Models
Model
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Description
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Feature and User License Entitlement1
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|---|---|---|
Unified Communications 500 Series for 8 Users |
•
•
•
•
• |
•
•
• |
Unified Communications 500 Series for 16 Users |
•
•
•
•
•
Note |
•
•
• |
Unified Communications 500 Series for 32 Users |
•
•
•
•
•
Note |
•
•
• |
Unified Communications 500 Series for 48 Users |
•
•
•
•
Note |
•
•
• |
Unified Communications 500 Series for 48 Users (T1/E1 Interface) |
•
•
•
•
•
Note |
•
•
• |
1 There are two additional licenses with each Unified Communications 500 for teleworker support. |
Call Control and Processing
Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express is the core call processing software for the IP telephony system for small businesses. Integrated into Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series, it extends IP telephony features and capabilities to IP Phones and other telephony devices.. It supports 8, 16, 32 or 48 IP phones. Its call control feature supports either PBX or Key System functionality, plus legacy telephony features such as call transfer, paging, intercom, call coverage, call park, MOH, and night bell. It also supports Hunt Groups, basic ACD, and reporting, as well as ad hoc and "Meet Me" conferencing and the DID/Operator console.
Converged IP communications features include video telephony, wireless (802.11) integration, soft phone support, desktop integration, and SIP support.
Voice Mail and Messaging
The Integrated Voice Mail and Automated Attendant solution using Cisco Unity Express includes tutorial that provides a step-by-step guide through the mailbox setup process, minimizing the need for administrator assistance. Its commonly used voice-mail features includes replying, forwarding, saving messages, message tagging for privacy or urgency, alternate greetings, pause, fast forward and rewind, and envelope information.
Networking capabilities include the Voice Profiling for Internet Mail (VPIM) protocol, allowing communication with other Cisco messaging platforms, as well as distribution lists and broadcast messages. Public and private distribution list functions and broadcast messaging capabilities are built-in, along with general-delivery mailboxes (GDMs), multiple GDM voice-mail boxes for designated team members, and the ability for subscribers to recover a message if it is inadvertently deleted.
Users can share the interface, menu structure, and commands with other Cisco voice-messaging products. Personal operators are configurable for alternate telephone numbers, per voice mailbox, for the "zero out" option and voice-mail access using IMAP integration with Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, or Lotus Notes. Also, when using the VoiceView Express XML application, you have access to the Cisco Unified IP Phone voice-mail and mailbox settings. . It supports 8, 16, 32 or 48 mailboxes.
Conferencing
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Express is the core conferencing software that provides integrated voice, video, and Web conferencing capabilities to enable remote meetings that are natural and effective with face-to-face quality.
Endpoints and Clients
Cisco IP Communicator is the core software that integrates the management capabilities of IP-based networks with phones, pagers, and computers and use these for signaling, voice communications, and data communications.
Wireless and Mobility
The Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series includes an optional, integrated wireless access point. This enables businesses to easily install a wireless network for a small office. Businesses needing more wireless coverage or support for more users will have to install additional WLAN access points and mobility controllers. Cisco Mobility Express includes WLAN access points and mobility controllers for deploying WIFI networks in businesses with up to 250 employees.
Security
Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series provides basic security with integrated firewall, remote access VPN and other Catalyst Integrated Security features.
Network Management
Cisco netManager Unified Communications provides monitoring for data systems in IP telephony for small and medium business. This tool allows to visualize, monitor, threshold, and alert data network. Cisco netManager provides management, monitoring, and diagnostic functionality for the entire Cisco Unified Communications system, including Cisco Unified Communications products and applications as well as the underlying IP transport infrastructure.
Infrastructure
The Cisco Catalyst Express 520 Switch is a component of the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series. The Cisco Configuration Assistant 520 is a fixed-configuration, managed Ethernet switch that provides eight ports of 10/100 Power over Ethernet (PoE), optimized for integration with the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series. This switch offers several features such as PoE, advanced network security, QOS and centralized management.
Other Optional Components
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Cisco Unified Video Advantage
Cisco Unified Video Advantage brings video telephony (VT) functionality to Cisco Unified IP Phones, providing Cisco Unified IP Phone and Cisco IP Communicator users with the ability to add video to their communications experience. With Cisco Unified Video Advantage, video telephony is as easy as making a phone call.
•Cisco Unified CallConnector for Microsoft Windows
Cisco Unified CallConnector for Microsoft Windows delivers a new way to handle the everyday task of communicating with others within the business or with customers and partners. As a fully integrated communications management solution with presence (the availability of a current user), the application is easy to use and can offer greater productivity when used consistently.