Cisco telephony system

Cisco telephony system is based on IP (Internet Protocol) telephony and unified communications (UC), which provide organizations with voice, video, and messaging capabilities over their network infrastructure. Cisco’s telephony solutions allow businesses to move away from traditional phone systems (PBX) and embrace more flexible and scalable VoIP (Voice over IP) technology. Here’s an overview of Cisco’s telephony systems and their components

Cisco offers a comprehensive range of telephone systems that cater to businesses of all sizes, from small offices to large enterprises. Their products are known for their reliability, advanced features, and seamless integration with other Cisco collaboration solutions.

1. Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM)

Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), previously known as Cisco CallManager, is the core of Cisco’s enterprise telephony solutions. It is a powerful call processing system that provides centralized control over VoIP infrastructure.

• Key Features:
  • Centralized IP telephony, video, and conferencing management.
  • Supports voice, video, and data services across devices like IP phones, softphones, and mobile devices.
  • Scalability for businesses of all sizes.
  • Voicemail, call routing, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response (IVR) support.
  • High-level security and encryption for calls.
  • Integration with collaboration tools like Webex for seamless communication.

2. Cisco Webex Calling

Cisco Webex Calling is a cloud-based telephony system designed for businesses looking to migrate their voice infrastructure to the cloud. It allows businesses to make and receive phone calls through the Webex platform, which is ideal for remote workforces.

• Key Features:
  • Cloud-based VoIP service, eliminating the need for on-premise infrastructure.
  • PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) connectivity via Cisco Calling Plans or third-party carriers.
  • Advanced call features: call forwarding, voicemail, call queues, and more.
  • Integration with Webex meetings, messaging, and collaboration tools.
  • Ideal for businesses seeking scalability and easy global deployment.

3. Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CME)

For smaller businesses or branch offices, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CME) offers a simpler, embedded telephony system. CME is integrated into Cisco routers (Integrated Services Routers, ISRs) and provides essential IP telephony services.

• Key Features:
  • Provides call control, voicemail, auto-attendant, and conferencing.
  • Best suited for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with fewer users.
  • Can be deployed on Cisco routers with embedded voicemail and automated attendants.
  • Easy setup and cost-effective for smaller offices.
  • Can scale with business needs by upgrading to CUCM as necessary.

4. Cisco IP Phones

Cisco provides a broad range of IP phones that integrate with their telephony systems, offering various features for different business requirements.

• Popular Models:
  • Cisco 7800 Series: Affordable and efficient IP phones designed for everyday business use.
  • Cisco 8800 Series: High-end IP phones with advanced features like HD voice, video conferencing, and enhanced security.
• Features of Cisco IP Phones:
  • High-definition (HD) voice quality.
  • Video-enabled devices for video conferencing.
  • Support for multiple lines, programmable buttons, and customizable soft keys.
  • Security features like encryption and authentication.
  • Integration with CUCM, Webex Calling, and other telephony systems.

5. Cisco Jabber

Cisco Jabber is a unified communication tool that integrates voice, messaging, video, and conferencing capabilities. Jabber can act as a softphone for making and receiving calls on desktop or mobile devices.

• Key Features:
  • Softphone capability with CUCM integration.
  • Instant messaging, presence information, video calling, and desktop sharing.
  • Support for remote and mobile users, making it easier to work from anywhere.
  • Integration with Cisco IP telephony infrastructure and Webex.

6. Cisco Collaboration Solutions

Cisco’s broader collaboration suite integrates telephony with additional services like video conferencing, team messaging, file sharing, and contact center solutions.

• Key Features:
  • Unified communications for seamless collaboration across devices and locations.
  • Integration with Webex Meetings and Webex Teams for video conferencing and team collaboration.
  • Enterprise-grade security and compliance features.
  • Mobility solutions for remote workers with apps like Cisco Webex Teams and Jabber.

7. Cisco Unified Contact Center

Cisco’s Unified Contact Center solutions integrate with CUCM or Webex Calling, allowing businesses to manage customer interactions across multiple channels (voice, chat, email, etc.).

• Key Features:
  • Supports multi-channel customer service (voice, chat, email, social media).
  • Skill-based routing, automatic call distribution (ACD), and customer interaction analytics.
  • Integration with customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
  • Scalable solutions for both small and large contact centers.

Benefits of Cisco Telephony Systems:

• Scalability: Cisco telephony systems can scale to accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small offices to global enterprises.
• Reliability: Cisco offers highly reliable systems with redundancy and failover capabilities to ensure business continuity.
• Security: Cisco’s telephony solutions provide encryption and other security features to protect voice communications.
• Unified Communications: Cisco integrates voice, video, messaging, and collaboration in one seamless ecosystem, improving productivity.
• Flexibility: With cloud and on-premise options, businesses can choose a telephony solution that fits their infrastructure and future goals.