News Release

Cisco Unveils New Specialization to Identify Channel Partners Capable of Addressing Global Customer Commerce Needs

Global Commerce Specialization Recognizes Channel Partners with a Global Presence and the Ability to Provide Consistent Commerce and Product Delivery Services Worldwide
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Feb 12, 2004

CISCO PARTNER SUMMIT 2004, HONOLULU, HI, February 12, 2004 - As part of its commitment to developing programs that meet dynamic customer and channel partner business needs, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced a new specialization designed to recognize and reward channel partners for their global presence and the ability to provide consistent commerce and product logistics services worldwide. The new Global Commerce Specialization has so far been awarded to Dimension Data, Equant, IBM and NCR.

"Our Global Accounts want to identify Cisco partners who can support their procurement and delivery needs on a worldwide basis," said Surinder Brar, senior director, Worldwide Programs and Strategy at Cisco Systems. "We worked with our Global Customer Advisory Board to identify specific requirements around geographic coverage, product delivery logistics and commercial terms, and have developed this specialization to recognize these partner capabilities."

"DHL offers its clients truly global services," said, Gary Clark, VP, Global IS Telecom Services, DHL. "It is imperative that we work with select Cisco partners, like Dimension Data, who have the global capability to deliver technology solutions and services and meet our business requirements across all our territories."

"Dimension Data and our subsidiaries have been providing worldwide IT support to global enterprise customers such as DHL for many years," said Doc Watson, Cisco Executive at Dimension Data. "However, having Cisco audit, verify and recognize our global capabilities and existing rigorous standards and procedures will definitely strengthen our overall value proposition and enhance our global business offering."

In addition, in order to qualify for the Global Commerce Specialization, a channel partner must demonstrate their capabilities in supporting global customers by offering global and centralized services in defined areas of order management, invoicing, agreements, and product delivery logistics. Cisco undertakes an independent audit of the partner to verify these capabilities before awarding the Specialization.

Partners who achieve the Cisco Global Commerce Specialization also earn 20 points toward certification under the Cisco Channel Partner Program in each country where they maintain Premier, Silver or Gold certification. For more detailed information regarding the new specialization go to www.Cisco.com/go/specializations.

For more features, news, videos, and photos relating to the Cisco 2004 Partner Summit visit http://newsroom.cisco.com/partnersummit/