Cisco Smart Business Communication System

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Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series

The heart of the Cisco Smart Business Communication System is the UC 500. The UC 500 is powered by Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express and Cisco Unity Express. This platform supports the portfolio of Cisco Unified IP phones, including the softphone Cisco IP Communicator, Internet connectivity with firewall protection, virtual private networks (VPNs), and wireless LAN access for reliable, highly secure communications. Combined with its optional desktop application support, Cisco Unified Communications 500 enables more effective collaboration by using simple yet powerful capabilities such as instant messaging, single-number reach, and desktop control of all calls and messages to help enrich the total communications experience.

Cisco Catalyst® Express 520

This Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch easily expands the Smart Business Communications System’s Cisco Unified IP phone and wireless LAN access point capacity to provide a security-enabled LAN optimized for highly secure access to information and collaboration applications.

Cisco Mobility Express Solution

Cisco 521 Wireless Express Access Point and Cisco 526 Wireless Express Mobility Controller. These additional key components of the Smart Business Communication System create a wireless network that dynamically optimize the radio coverage and help enable anytime, anywhere services.

Cisco Configuration Assistant

This is one component of the powerful system-management tools for the Smart Business Communication System. It takes advantage of the embedded Cisco Smart Assist technology to provide plug-and-play functionality for the system, reducing setup time and optimizing network settings. With its easy-to-use graphical user interface, this tool provides the breadth and depth to configure telephony, messaging, switching, wireless LAN, firewall, and security services, allowing partners and customers to quickly set up a small business network.

Cisco Monitor Director

The Cisco Monitor Director, provides users with a centralized proactive solutions-management tool for Cisco channel partners to offer multicustomer outsourced 24-hour network management services. It communicates with the Cisco Monitor Manager residing on a customer’s premises to provide comprehensive, real-time monitoring, alerting and reporting to help troubleshoot and fix issues remotely. Combining these management tools helps enable Cisco channel partners become trusted advisers to their customers.

Cisco Smart Business Communication System First Impressions

While the Cisco Smart Business Communication System looks great on paper, the big concern with this solution has to be the ease of use, installation, and on-going maintenance. Cisco has been particularly difficult to deal with on these front in the past and for the SMB, the last thing they want or need is another headache. If I where in the market for a new phone/communications system I would take a look at this solution, but I would do so with caution, possibly waiting for more feedback from “guinea pig” users.