Current Express Unified Communications Specialized Partners
The investment for a partner to 'maintain' or 'update' their existing Unified Communications lab has been ‘paused’ for partners who are preparing to recertify. This means that at the time of the partners' 'recertification', they will not be required to provide proof of compliance for their Unified Communications lab.
New Express Unified Communications Specialized Partner candidates
The Unified Communications lab investment will continue to be a requirement for those partner candidates who are applying for the Express Unified Communications specialization.
Cisco requires the purchase of an Express Unified Communications lab configuration for the purposes of customer fault replication, internal training, and
proof-of-concept demonstrations. In order to provide flexible options in fulfilling the Express Unified Communications lab requirement, various product
choices are accessible through the product category links below. You must have one product from each of the following product categories in your Express
Unified Communications lab environment:
The solution delivers integrated IP telephony, voicemail, and automated attendant functions, enabling you to deploy one device to address all your business communications needs. The result is simplified management, maintenance, and operations, with a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
Cisco Unity Express
Cisco Unity Express offers voicemail and automated-attendant capabilities for IP phone users. The voicemail and automated-attendant capabilities are fully integrated into the Cisco access router using a network module or advanced integration module (AIM).
Cisco IP Phones
A minimum of two Cisco Unified IP Phone phones are required, IP Phone 793X, 794x, 796X, or 797X.
The Cisco Unified IP Phones 7900 Series supports a rich suite of endpoint applications, including XML-based applications on all models. Selected models also support MIDlet-enabled applications, Cisco Unified Communications Widgets, applications developed within the Cisco Unified Application Environment, and personal video communications.
Cisco Voice Gateway
Cisco integrated services routers, ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and small enterprise branch offices, enable businesses to reduce costs by deploying a single, resilient system for fast, secure, delivery of multiple mission-critical business services, including: Data, Security, Unified Communications, and Wireless.
Voice gateways that fulfill this requirement include Cisco 18XX, 28xx, 38xx router or higher.
Cisco Switch
Switches with Inline Power are required. Experience with Cisco Discovery Protocol and proper installation of inline power is recommended. See product options for acceptable switches.
Verification of Lab Equipment
Cisco will verify all partner labs. Cisco reserves the right to request a demonstration of the lab upon approval into the specialization program. The
required lab list must be verified by one of the following three methods:
Validation by onsite Cisco systems engineer (Cisco SE Verification Form), OR;
Upload an itemized lab list showing corresponding invoices or invoice numbers for all lab equipment into the specializations application, OR;
Upload an itemized lab list showing corresponding product serial numbers for all lab equipment into the specializations application.
Instructions for uploading verification of labs using invoices or serial numbers can be found at:
