Cisco’s converged end-to-end network solution offers the strengths
of the Cisco data networking components such as routers, switches and firewalls
which have infrastructure security and reliability as a foundation. An IP
Telephony solution can be then be implemented over that network.
The
power of this approach is that each new application such as video, Web, or
telephony represents just another media type over the same infrastructure
medium rather than creating a different communication medium for each media
type. Intelligent devices are automatically given rights and priorities and the
applications themselves can intelligently communicate with the infrastructure
to meet the constantly changing needs of the system as specified by the
organization. As the figure indicates, this unity of infrastructure and
applications is what distinguishes Cisco IP Telephony solutions from those of
its competitors.
Benefits of IP Telephony on a Cisco Infrastructure
Cisco IP
phones are able to use the Ethernet switches in the network as the "voice
call switch matrix." Calls are managed differently, and the inherent time
slot and bandwidth limitations of traditional TDM architectures are removed.
Switching of a call is done only between the devices required to switch the
call: the IP phones, voice gateways and Ethernet switches. Calls do not have to
be routed back to a traditional TDM switching matrix to complete the call.
Cisco IP phones are also able to receive call-processing capability directly
from the Cisco IOS® Software running on the access router for remote or small
office locations. The tight integration with the IP network infrastructure
provides customers with the flexibility to design their IP networks to meet
their individual voice and data needs.
Beyond network efficiency and
scalability, the tight integration of IP telephony and Cisco infrastructure
also delivers other benefits including:
- Speedier, lower-cost moves, adds, and changes
- Automatically updated E911 System
- Quicker deployment of quality of service (QoS) settings
- Security common to all network devices
- Built-in resiliency
- Power over Ethernet and intelligent power management to reduce power
costs
- New planning and management tools to ensure voice quality
- A full range of IP Communications solutions
- Revenue-generating and productivity-enhancing Extensible Markup Language
(XML) applications