ORLANDO, Fla., August 7, 2006 - Cisco Systems® today announced its Solutions with Advanced Technologies (S.W.A. T.) program at the annual international conference of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). S.W.A.T. represents Cisco's unique response to the call for effective public safety networking that for the first time unifies chain-of-command communications to improve emergency response and operational efficiency.

To demonstrate the power of this capability to the public safety personnel gathered here, Cisco® also showcased its Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled mobile command and control center that for the first time can set up or continue mobile communications that fully integrate all communication modes and information from 9-1-1, dispatch, radio, satellite, wireless, weather monitoring and video.

An increased awareness of terrorist threats, natural disasters and other disruptive events has focused attention on the challenges many public safety organizations face in rapidly obtaining and sharing information. This is especially significant when a communications infrastructure is affected or does not exist in an affected area. S.W.A.T. represents the first approach to public safety networking that allows converged communications using multiple devices. This helps law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services (EMS) and other emergency response agencies communicate via voice, video and data, all using standards-based IP networking technology.

"Public safety networking is the foundation of a connected, safe community," said Morgan Wright, Cisco's global industry solutions manager for public safety. "By providing a standards-based, converged, highly secure network, law enforcement, fire, EMS and other agencies can better safeguard and respond to their communities. And our mobile command center on the show floor today demonstrates to the public safety community how this converged capability can work like no other platform during a crisis."

According to research conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, the five primary challenges for public safety agencies are incompatible communications technologies, insufficient staffing, insufficient information sharing, technology obsolescence and the inability of agencies to communicate and coordinate their efforts. Taking advantage of all of Cisco's advanced technologies, S.W.A.T. helps public safety agencies meet these challenges by giving them the capability to gather and share information quickly through the entire chain of command via voice, video, data and mobility on one network.

"S.W.A.T. represents Cisco's unique approach to public safety networking where more and better information is available for faster, more effective decision making and response," Wright continued. "Cisco's advanced technologies can be rapidly deployed and scaled to meet agencies' changing requirements and deliver a converged, highly secure and more reliable network that meets public safety information needs wherever, whenever. As a result, agencies can immediately coordinate their response to events and quickly direct the appropriate resources where they're needed."

S.W.A.T. takes Cisco's long-term commitment to public safety to the next level by bringing together the best and most innovative technologies and highly qualified partners to make public safety networking across the entire chain of command a reality. With S.W.A.T., actionable information can now be delivered across any network or device.

The mobile command center demonstration of public safety networking enables a range of public safety crisis capabilities that Cisco and its technology partners are showcasing at booth # 1179 during APCO, including:

• Rapidly deployable communications via the Tactical Communications Kit (TCK) from Cisco and CACI International, and the Cisco Instant and Mobile Integrated Communications Solution (IMICS). TCK, designed for first responders on the scene needing instant communications, provides highly secure voice, data and video communications solutions that can withstand harsh conditions. Cisco IMICS is a customizable solution for rapid deployment of essential communications services such as highly secure voice over IP, optimized Web connectivity, and wireless hotspot capabilities in the event of an emergency or network outage.
• Instantaneous weather information via WeatherBug, which provides the only live, neighborhood-level weather information at critical times, such as during hurricane season.
• Cisco outdoor wireless networking solutions allow for the immediate deployment of wireless access connectivity at emergency situation locations for first responders to access mission-critical information and communicate with each other.
• Video surveillance and communication, using a mobile video kit supplied by TANDBERG, facilitates emergency applications such as in-field video conferencing and situational awareness reports to public officials and emergency organizations.
• The first demonstration of a Cisco validated IP-enabled 9-1-1 application that is field deployable. Last year at APCO, Cisco and CML (now PlantCML) announced the first IP-based 9-1-1 application. This year, the demonstration allows mobile units to instantly set up 9-1-1 calling capability and scale for large-scale crises.
• Cisco IPICS (IP Interoperability and Collaboration System) provides comprehensive voice communications interoperability for existing radios, with IP and non-IP networks, to enable existing push-to-talk services and new and future communications capabilities that can be easily and quickly delivered to support any geography, technology, system, PC desktop, device and user, as needed.

Cisco, the leader in public safety networking, offers advanced Unified Communications, security and mobility solutions. These solutions provide a highly responsive and resilient public safety environment by connecting the entire chain of command, as well as their law enforcement, fire and EMS counterparts to actionable information. This information includes converged voice, video and data that communicate the most complete picture available of a situation. Cisco public safety customers include a range of public safety departments worldwide, such as Interpol, Washington State Patrol, Miami-Dade Police Department, New York City Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the city of Everett, Washington. For more information: www.cisco.com/go/publicsafety.