SAN JOSE, Calif., November 10, 2004 - Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced that the number of networking professionals with Cisco Qualified Specialist focused certifications has increased by 60 percent over the last 12 months. Highlighting its commitment to deliver a portfolio of market-relevant certification programs, Cisco also announced the availability of the latest addition to its focused certifications, the Cisco Unity® Support Specialist.

The increase in Cisco Qualified Specialist focused certifications signifies a substantial market demand for trained Cisco professionals in advanced technology markets, including storage networking, wireless and IP telephony. As part of Cisco Career Certifications, Cisco Qualified Specialist certifications deliver network professionals significant competency in specific technology areas to better align their core expertise with evolving industry requirements. The Cisco Unity Support Specialist Certification is the latest addition to Cisco's focused certifications reflecting its continued commitment to provide certifications that are evolving with market and customers requirements for optimizing productivity and performance.

"As the industry expands into new and important markets, CIOs and IT Managers worldwide have prioritized the need for training in these key areas to keep current with the industry and to ensure business continuity," said Tom Kelly, vice president, Internet Learning Solutions Group. "By providing the specialized training and tools networking professionals need to implement new technologies, Cisco is contributing to the innovations that change the way the world communicates and conducts business."

The rise in demand for focused certifications in IP telephony and wireless are in step with market trends. For instance, the worldwide market for IP telephony services will top $2.2 billion in 2007, exhibiting an annual growth rate of 45.3 percent, according to analysts. As for the wireless market, wireless LAN sales are expected to increase 75 percent by yearend.

To address this industry movement, Cisco is delivering a broad array of certifications in specific technology areas including storage, wireless and IP telephony:

• Cisco Storage Networking certification - The Cisco Storage Networking focused certifications validate knowledge of storage networking technology that focuses on the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Switches. These skills support the deployment of a highly scalable, reliable, distributed multi-service solution that is based on a converged architecture in the single office, the remote site or the entire enterprise.
• Cisco Wireless LAN certifications - The Cisco Wireless LAN focused certifications indicate significant knowledge of relevant factors involved in designing, deploying and maintaining end-to-end Cisco Wireless LAN solutions throughout or between buildings, without the limitations of wires or cables.
• IP Telephony Certifications - The Cisco IP Telephony focused certifications validate proficiency in designing, installing and supporting a multi-service network solution. Recent additions to the IP telephony certifications include:
• Cisco Unity Support Specialist Certification
  Technical professionals who achieve the Cisco Unity Support Specialist certification can design, install, configure, operate and maintain a Cisco Unity 4.0 system in both stand-alone voicemail and unified messaging environments.
• Cisco Unity Design Specialist Certification
  The Cisco Unity Design Specialist possesses the knowledge and expertise necessary to create a variety of sustainable Cisco Unity design solutions tailored to specific customer requirements.

About Cisco Career Certifications

The widely respected Cisco Career Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to network professionals, their managers and the organizations that employ them. Cisco offers three levels of general certification: Associate, Professional and Expert. Each is available in various tracks such as Routing and Switching, Network Security and Service Provider. A variety of Cisco Qualified Specialist focused certifications are also available to show knowledge in specific technologies, solutions or job roles.

For Cisco Career Certifications information, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning.