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Cisco Expands Unified IP Phone Portfolio
[April 20, 2006]

Cisco Expands Unified IP Phone Portfolio


Analyst, Access Intelligence LLC
 
Cisco Systems (News - Alert) Inc. has introduced a number of new or enhanced IP telephone models, including the 7911G (Global) and 7941G-GE and 7961G-GE (Global and Gigabit Ethernet) models. All support IEEE power and advanced SIP capabilities.  Recently, Cisco announced Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0, a new software version of the company's IP PBX that runs on the Linux operating system and adds "native" support for SIP (SIP line and trunk support) in addition to Cisco's existing protocol, Skinny Client Control Protocol or SCCP. With native support for SIP, Cisco customers and channel partners will have a choice of endpoint devices from various vendors for a customized solution. Further flexibility is available to Cisco customers since they can choose devices based on SIP or Cisco's SCCP.
 
Cisco's IP Phone 7911G (pictured) is the company’s newest basic IP phone with the same hardware design of Cisco’s earlier IP Phone 7912G, including one line and four soft keys for access to popular telephony features and functions. Designed for business employees with low to medium telephone usage such as those in retail, school or manufacturing environments, the 7911G adds enhanced memory, IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet and advanced security.  XML support enables text-based applications (including double-byte and unicode characters) to be viewable on the monochrome display. The 7911G works with Cisco's CallManager 3.3 software (or higher) and CallManager Express 4.0 (due out June 2006).
 
Cisco IP phones with pixel-based displays support multilingual user interface (text on call display); numerous languages are available, including US/UK English, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Italian, German, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Greek, Polish and others. High resolution displays on the 7911G, 7941G, 7941G-GE, 7961G, 7961G-GE, 7970G, and 7971G models also allow support for Asian languages - Japanese, Chinese and Korean.


 
The wide range of IP telephones by Cisco address the varying needs of all personnel levels. Entry-level, mid-range and high-end models are available, as well as an IEEE 802.11b wireless IP phone and a desktop video phone for executives and managers who need face-to-face and instant communication. See the snapshot of four Cisco IP Phones below and visit www.telecomtactics.com for more detail.
 
 
SNAPSHOT FROM TELECOMTACTICS APRIL 2006
For more detail, visit www.telecomtactics.com
VENDOR:
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Systems, Inc.
TELEPHONE MODEL:
Cisco IP Phone 7911G
Cisco IP Phone 7941G/7941G-GE
Cisco IP Phone 7961G/7961G-GE
Cisco IP Phone
7971G-GE
APPLICATION:
Ethernet IP Telephone
Ethernet IP Telephone
Ethernet IP Telephone
Ethernet IP Telephone
INTRODUCTION:
2005
2005
2005
2005
Number of Lines
1
2
6
8
Programmable Keys
0
2
6
8
Fixed Keys
4
8
8
9
Soft Keys
4
4
4
5
Display
192 x 64 pixel-based display
320 x 222 pixel-based display, graphical 4-bit grayscale
320 x 222 pixel-based display, graphical 4-bit grayscale
320 x 234 pixel-based display, color touch-screen
Speakerphone
No (listen only)
Yes, full duplex
Yes, full duplex
Yes, full duplex
Multilingual
Yes (20+)
Yes (20+)
Yes (20+)
Yes (20+)
Telephone LAN Interface
10/100Base-T
10/100Base-T (G); 10/100/1000Base-T (G-GE)
10/100Base-T (G); 10/100/1000Base-T (G-GE)
 10/100/1000Base-T
Compression Algorithms
G.711; G.711a; G.729a; G,729b; G.729ab
G.711; G.729a
G.711; G.729a
G.711; G.729a
 DESCRIPTION:
Cisco's IP Phone 7911G (Global) is designed for business employees with low to medium telephone usage such as those in retail, school or manufacturing environments. The phone supports popular business features: Caller ID, call waiting, call forward, 3-way conferencing, meet-me conferencing, redial, hold, and speed dial. This single-line phone supports four interactive soft keys for calling options via the LCD. Fixed buttons include menu (call logs, phone settings, voice mail, ring types), hold, and volume control.
Designed for low to medium usage, the Cisco IP Phone 7941G (Global) and 7941G-GE (Global and Gigabit Ethernet) support popular telephone features such as distinctive ringing, volume adjustment, call forwarding, call hold, call park, call transfer, call waiting, calling party ID, last number redial, privacy, speed dial, voice mail count, speakerphone/handset ringer volume control and mute. This phone has two line appearances, two programmable keys and four interactive soft keys, as well as a large, grayscale pixel-based display.
Designed for executives and managers and their assistants, the Cisco IP Phone 7961G (Global) and 7961G-GE (Global and Gigabit Ethernet) support popular telephone features such as distinctive ringing, volume adjustment, call forwarding, call hold, call park, call transfer, call waiting, calling party ID, last number redial, privacy, speed dial, voice mail count, speakerphone/handset ringer volume control and mute. This phone has six line appearances, six programmable keys and four interactive soft keys, as well as a large, grayscale pixel-based display.
Designed for top executives who need a phone with full features and Web-based applications, Cisco's IP Phone 7971G-GE (Global and Gigabit Ethernet) supports popular telephone features and a 3.38 x 4.5-inch color display (4,096 colors and adjustable backlight) with touch-screen and network-based information. While talking on the phone, employees can use the phone display to access checking customer orders (retail), setting wake-up calls (hospitality), taking student attendance (education) or accessing corporate directories with photos, for example.
 List Price is $225 (plus $150 license).
List Price is $345 (plus $200 license) for 7941G.
List Price is $445 (plus $200 license) for 7961G.
MSRP price, excluding license fees, is $995.
 

Visit www.telecomtactics.com for a full report on the Cisco IP Phones and compare these to other IP Phones on the market. Also new in TelecomTactics this month are Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0, Siemens (News - Alert) HiPath 4000 3.0, Avaya (News - Alert)-Tenovis Integral 55 LX, Vertical DX-80 F42 (formerly from Comdial), Vertical FX II (R197, FP17E), Vertical CONVERSip MP5000 (R212, FP2.0), Inter-Tel (News - Alert) Enterprise Messaging, Inter-Tel Contact Center Suite 4.0 and much more!
 
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Sandra M. Gusavsen is an analyst for TelecomTactics and Access Intelligence, LLC. To see more of her articles, please visit the TelecomTactics column page.
 

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