SAN JOSE, Calif., April 18, 2000 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced availability of the Cisco Professional Services Partner (PSP) Program. Designed to capitalize on the joint strengths of Cisco and key delivery partners for service provider, enterprise, and small/medium businesses, the Cisco Professional Services Partner program has initially qualified 20 Professional Services firms to provide customers in-depth services for network planning, design, implementation, operation, and optimization.
"The convergence of data, voice and video technology, the explosion of e-commerce, and the growing demand for secure access and networking services are driving a rapidly changing and increasingly complex business environment. As a result, both large and small customers are forced to quickly deploy increasingly complex networking solutions and require escalating levels of specialized technology support," said Cas Skrzypczak, Cisco Senior Vice President of Global Delivery and Solutions. "Cisco's Professional Services Partner Program is designed to help customers of all sizes contend with those demands by bringing together Cisco's networking technology and business strengths with the experience and expertise of top notch professional services firms."
The Cisco Professional Services Partner Program, which is part of Cisco's New World Ecosystem Program tailored for professional services, qualifies and enables firms to deliver services for the planning, design, implementation, operation, and optimization of complex end-to-end networks using both new and existing technologies. Service delivery under the program will include the rapid deployment of next-generation technologies such as virtual private networks, voice and data integration, mobile and fixed wireless, optical internetworking, Cisco IOS, DSL, and open programmable switching. Firms in the program offer a variety of deployment services, network and system integration, program management, software development and integration, and strategic consulting.
In the U.S., the following companies have been qualified for the Cisco Professional Services Program: Datatec Systems, Inc, Getronics, Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Global Services, KPMG Consulting, NCR, NetEffect Corp., Netigy Corp., Predictive Systems, Inc., REALTECH Systems Corp., Rt. 1 Solutions Inc., SAIC, Sprint Enterprise Network Services, The Signature Group, Total Network Solutions, Inc., and Unisys.
In Latin America, the program has initially qualified the following companies: Cygnus in Venezuela, Getronics in Mexico, Multirede in Brazil, and Softnet in Argentina.
The Cisco Professional Services Program uses stringent, predefined qualification and assessment criteria to enroll services firms. Under the program, all firms will be reviewed annually and will be rated on customer satisfaction. Once qualified, professional services firms will benefit from Cisco tools, training, knowledge transfer, co-marketing activities, and special access to Cisco Web-based information, technical support, and software.
"These high-caliber program criteria are designed to ensure the best possible service delivery for our customers. The services firms' competencies are put to the test through our audits and skill assessments, and will be re-verified each year to ensure our customers continue to receive top notch service," said Patrick Finn, Senior Director of Partner Enablement at Cisco. "Our mutual customers will gain tailored solutions and will benefit by being able to quickly and successfully deploy new technologies or expand networks using existing technologies with the assurance of high quality and availability for mission-critical applications."
The Cisco Professional Services Program is available in the U.S. and Latin America, with efforts currently underway to expand globally. For additional information on Cisco's PSP Program, visit www.cisco.com/go/psp.
