Cisco Systems Sponsor of the

Communications Award 2005/6

Cisco Introduces New Unified Communications System to Streamline Business Processes, Drive Productivity

New presence, desktop tools, mobile integration and network intelligence improve business agility and customer interaction ORLANDO, Florida (VoiceCon Spring 2006) - March 6, 2006 - Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced the Cisco® Unified Communications system, a new suite of voice, data and video products and applications specifically designed to help organizations of all sizes to communicate more effectively. It will allow customers to integrate their communications system with their IT infrastructure, streamlining business processes for the way effective businesses need to work today.
Based on the Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture (SONA) announced in December 2005, the Cisco Unified Communications system is an open and extensible platform for real-time communications based on presence, mobility and the intelligent information network. By using the IT data network as the service delivery platform, the system helps workers to reach the right resource the first time by delivering presence and preference information to an organization's employees.

"The Cisco Unified Communications system is the first true second-generation Internet Protocol (IP) Communications system providing not just telephone services, but rather a rich communications environment that seamlessly integrates voice, video and data collaboration in one system. It is also the first new Cisco system to fully support Cisco SONA, announced in December 2005," said Charles Giancarlo, chief development officer, Cisco Systems, Inc. "Cisco SONA extends the power of the network to optimize applications, processes and resources to deliver greater business benefits to enterprises. By building on Cisco SONA, Cisco Unified Communications leverages network intelligence to greatly simplify the day-to-day challenges of collaboration with colleagues."

The Cisco Unified Communications system is based on Cisco's industry-leading IP Communications portfolio including Cisco CallManager, Cisco Unity, Cisco MeetingPlace and Cisco IP Contact Center and now includes additional innovative products, applications, features and capabilities. New to the Cisco Unified Communications system are Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Unified Presence Server and Customer Interaction Analyzer. Current customers will be able to upgrade their existing systems to take advantage of the new capabilities.

Cisco Systems will have a stand at the forth coming NHF IT in Housing Conference and Exhibition 2006 to be held on the 8th-9th May at the Novotel London West.

Please feel to drop by and talk to us about our exciting Unified Communications solutions.
Click here to find out more.

Links to NEW@Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco Systems Sponsors iN Business For Neighbourhoods Award

Cisco Systems supports National Housing Federation

A major initiative has been agreed with Cisco Systems to offer the NHF members value proposition based around the effective use of IP Communications with applications such as IP Telephony and Service / Call centre applications.
A select number of partners have been chosen by the NHF to deliver the housing sector solutions that will enable time to market advantages based on proven technology and applications that will further drive efficiency.

The National Housing Federation has undertaken some challenging changes over the past few years, driven primarily by the need to help their Housing Association members. The procurement, implementation and use of technology to deliver better services, both internally and externally, are an important part of these changes.

This strategic initiative follows the implementation of the new Cisco-based IP Telephony system installed at the new offices of the National Housing Federation in Holborn and delivered by Redstone Communications Ltd, an accredited partner of Cisco Systems.

Relevance to Housing Associations

As part of a wider initiative to optimise all aspects of IT, Cisco Systems is working closely with the National Housing Federation and its members, to produce a centralised pricing model for Cisco products and services. This will not only provide value for money, but will also greatly limit the risk associated with buying new equipment.

With the importance of technology to housing associations in the provision of customer facing services together with internal management and reporting requirements, the National Housing Federation is putting together a portfolio of proven and trusted technology suppliers with Cisco Systems being the first.

George Grant, IT Consultant to NHF for vendor alliances.
Email: george.grant@tibcomp.co.uk
Telephone: 07739 432190

Launch of Cisco and National Housing Federation Alliance partnership, September at NHF Annual Conference in Birmingham

Launch of Cisco and National Housing Federation Alliance partnership
September at NHF Annual Conference in Birmingham.