Neil Walker Charts the Cisco Integrated Services Router's Success in Europe

October 7, 2005

In September last year Cisco Systems® announced that branch office routers were not just for data anymore.

Internet-based communications had opened up a whole world of possibilities for corporate networks, and the Cisco family of integrated services routers meant companies large and small could use their networks for voice and video communications as well as data.

Plus they could do it all with the industry's most robust security defense technologies.

Such advances mean greater cost savings and productivity from a company's network infrastructure investments, helping consolidate overhead expenses while boosting the collaborative capabilities of far-flung employees

A year on, Cisco has shipped half a million integrated services routers and the platform has become a firm favorite for all kinds of businesses, from startup offices to national telecommunications service providers.

To find out more about the success of this technology in Europe, News@Cisco spoke to Neil Walker, head of product marketing for core and foundation technologies for European and Emerging Markets.

How popular have integrated services routers been in Europe and typically how are they deployed?

Neil Walker: Europe is a very important market for us. In terms of deployment, what we have seen is that the integrated services router is a highly versatile platform that can be used in a wide range of situations.

Thus, for example, enterprises have found it ideally suited to the needs of branch offices, either with or without making use of its integrated voice capabilities.

Meanwhile, many of the big European telecommunications service providers have been able to build profitable new packages that incorporate integrated services routers alongside, for example, leased line or voice services.

Small and medium-sized business customers appreciate the ability to run all their communications securely out of a single box and are attracted to the exceptionally high level of performance that integrated services routers offer for their cost.

In Europe, Belgian service provider Belgacom is helping deliver IP communications services to the Belgian small and medium-sized businesses with Cisco Call Manager Express on the Cisco integrated services router.

New customers of the service include Lambrechts Sanitair, a plumbing and heating firm, and Jean-François Peirard, a firm of solicitors in the community of March-en-Famenne.

Each of these business types seems equally eager to adopt the integrated services router and all are, to a greater or lesser extent, making use of the full range of communications options that it offers. The ability to carry voice, in particular, seems to be very popular in Europe.

What are the features of the Cisco integrated services router platforms that make them so attractive to customers?

Neil Walker: Today networking is no longer about speeds and feeds. It is about services. Anyone can get a fast connection, but what you do with that connection is the key to maximizing network investments and boosting productivity.

With Cisco integrated services routers-the 1800, 2800 and 3800 Series-companies have unprecedented options for the types of communications they can run over their corporate networks.

The Cisco 2800 and 3800 Series routers offer the broadest spectrum of services to our customers in the market by integrating voice, video, wireless and application delivery services into a simple, easy-to-install-and-deploy device.

Thus, these series of products can provide customers with a single platform on which to enable all the network functions needed for their small office or branch site.

Each router comes with a full quiver of advanced, integrated, state-of-art security technologies.

With the Cisco integrated services router family, organizations are no longer limited to mere connections. Now they can run all their communications on a single IP network. Most importantly, these new routers provide crucial building blocks for the future of networking.

They are not only impressive machines, but they are critical pieces in our unique systems approach to building networks - something which resonates very well with our customers across both the European and emerging markets.

How has the integrated services router helped to extend IP communications to smaller sites and branch offices?

Neil Walker: The integrated services router family has applications in businesses of all sizes but is also an important building block in our portfolio of systems suited to smaller businesses and sites.

This portfolio was massively extended last month, when we announced 12 new voice and data communications solutions products and over 10 new versions or enhancements to existing products for small and mid-sized businesses.

Called the Cisco Business Communications Solution, it is the industry's first smart, simple and secure integrated voice, video, data and wireless communications system designed and priced for small to medium sized businesses.

Besides Cisco integrated services routers, the Solution incorporates a new switch - the Catalyst Express 500 - plus Cisco Network Assistant 3.0, Cisco Router and Security Device Manager and CiscoWorks IP Communications Operations Manager 1.0 and Service Monitor 1.0.

Simple, all-in-one communication is provided by CallManager Express 3.3 call processing software, Cisco Unity Express 2.2 voicemail and auto attendant, a range of new Cisco IP Phones and Cisco VG224 Analog Phone Gateways.

Finally there is a basic automatic call distributor for simple routing and customer care, a Cisco CRM Communications Connector for customer service, various IP Phone-based applications and a tailored finance and support package.

With this latest round of products and services, we can offer end-to-end packages to smaller business, including services, financing, and channel partner support, so both installation and management can be simple and fast.