SAN JOSE, Calif., March 3, 2004 -- Cisco Systems announced enhancements to its IP Communications portfolio by boosting its advanced voice, video and content service offerings for remote offices. With the latest versions of Cisco CallManager Express, Cisco Unity Express and Cisco Application and Content Networking System, Cisco provides branch office customers with increased interoperability, accessibility, flexibility and security.

Cisco CallManager Express 3.1 with Cisco Unity 1.1

Cisco CallManager Express creates a cost-effective IP Communications system by delivering an enhanced set of call-processing services such as call park, call pick up, call forwarding, day/night service, hunt groups, paging, and intercom to remote offices, using Cisco access routers. When deployed in conjunction with Cisco Unity Express, Cisco CallManager Express provides a complete voice solution with voice mail and auto attendant capabilities. Voice services are delivered via Cisco's portfolio of intelligent access routers, including the Cisco 1760, 2600XM, 2691 and 3700 Series routers for branch and small office enhancements.

The latest release of Cisco CallManager Express 3.1 and Cisco Unity Express 1.1, provides customers with increased interoperability and flexibility. By enabling these products to seamlessly interoperate with Cisco CallManager 3.3 and more recent software versions, enterprises are able to tailor their site deployments for a broad range of centrally or locally delivered IP communications services to meet their current and future needs.

With just a simple reconfiguration, Cisco CallManager Express can be converted to a Survivable Remote Site Telephony site in a Cisco CallManager environment with no change in Cisco Unity Express features and functionality, providing customers with an easy migration path and investment protection. In addition, the new AIM form factor for Cisco Unity Express offers greater flexibility by freeing up a network module slot and providing a larger selection of deployment platform options.

Cisco Application and Content Networking System 5.1

Part of the Cisco IP Communications portfolio, the Cisco Application and Content Networking System (ACNS) enables organizations of all sizes to extend high-quality live and on-demand video communications to branch and small office locations.

The latest release of Cisco ACNS 5.1 extends enhanced media-rich communications to remote offices with increased flexibility, accessibility and security. As part of the Cisco Business Video Solution, Cisco ACNS 5.1 provides customers with a prescriptive approach to live and on-demand IP video communications, bundled with a content creation tool, network infrastructure, and web portal. The Cisco ACNS 5.1 release of Cisco IP/TV adds Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) compliancy, a QuickTime- and ISMA-compatible player, and higher-performing hardware platforms.

In addition to delivering rich IP video services, Cisco ACNS 5.1 also enables organizations to deploy URL filtering for greater network security and increased productivity, while accelerating the distribution of security patches and software updates for faster, network-efficient access to new files. Cisco ACNS 5.1 runs on either network-integrated appliances or router-integrated network modules for Cisco 2600, 3600 and 3700 Series routers for deployment and configuration flexibility.

Cisco Networked Full-Service Branch

According to Zeus Kerravala, vice president for Enterprise Infrastructure for the Yankee Group, "As companies try to do more with less by lowering the cost of running the network and increasing the productivity of end-users with network applications, better branch-office strategy is needed." Cisco full services for branch and small offices comprise an expanding suite of intelligent, application-enabling network services as well as simple, adaptable, how-to blueprints that simplify the deployment of mission- and business-critical applications, while boosting employee productivity and lowering operational and capital expenses.

The award-winning Cisco CallManager Express with Cisco Unity Express solution and the Cisco Application and Content Networking System are two of 10 adaptable blueprints that will enable Cisco customers to deploy full-service small and enterprise branch offices. For more information on Cisco Full Service Branch solution blueprints, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/fsb.

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