Big Names Tackle VOIP

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced that it is working with Intel Corporation, Nokia, Research In Motion (RIM) and other technology leaders to drive enterprise adoption of voice-ready wireless networks. Building upon the explosive growth and widespread adoption of voice-over-IP (VoIP), and Wi-Fi networks, Cisco's voice-ready wireless capabilities of Cisco(R) Compatible Extensions create the foundation for enterprise organizations that want to capitalize on these converging technologies and make voice over Wi-Fi a business reality.

"The allure of streamlined voice-intensive business processes in the enterprise shifts the case for IP voice from 'It costs less' to 'It's better'," said Abner Germanow, research director at IDC. "Meanwhile, new wireless investments are delivering connectivity to mobile workers. The end result will be a new class of mobility applications as voice and wireless collide."

Voice-Ready Wireless -- New Plateaus of Enterprise Productivity

Voice-ready wireless is an end-to-end solutions approach that addresses the convergence of VoIP and wireless networks and allows enterprises to flexibly extend the mobility benefits of wireless networks to their voice communications. Critical to this solution are client devices with fully integrated advanced wireless LAN capabilities to ensure optimal performance. To optimize clients and wireless network components, Cisco is working with Intel, Nokia, RIM and other industry innovators, so that enterprises can simply deploy highly secure clients that are interoperable and capable of supporting advanced features required for voice.

The foundation of a voice-ready wireless network begins with a Cisco Unified Wireless Network. Designed to complement a variety of voice clients, the Cisco Unified Wireless Network is optimized for voice. It builds upon a highly-scalable, low total cost of ownership architecture, which is designed to support pervasive deployments that are typical of customers with mobile voice applications. Additionally, innovative features in the solution, such as end-to-end quality of service, and fast secure roaming backed by a portfolio of access points with enhanced radios, make the Cisco Unified Wireless Network "voice-ready".

"The benefits of converging VoIP and wireless are evident in having increased productivity and more responsive communications among increasingly mobile workforces," said Brian Hoepner, senior network specialist, Luther Midelfort Mayo Health System. "Knowing that industry leaders such as Cisco, Intel, Nokia and others support the capabilities of a voice-ready wireless network gives us assurance that as clients and network components change, we will have the optimal mix in place for advanced mobility services."

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)