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CIPTUG 2008 APPLICATION BAKE-OFF WINNERS
Overview of Application Bake-Off Competition
At the 2008 Annual Conference, CIPTUG hosted the Application Bake-Off Competition where end users and vendors demoed their recently released, or not yet released applications that solve unique, complex business problems across a variety of vertical markets. The Bake-Off provided an opportunity for attendees to give direct, valuable feedback to developers to drive innovative application development for Unified Communications, and to provide an avenue for communicating between customers and developers.
Purpose of Application Bake-Off was for Attendees to:
- Participate in hands-on live demos with a Unified Communications focus with Cisco Partners and end user customers
- Learn how other customers have developed and implemented applications enabling them to meet business goals, and gain a competitive advantage
- Talk to other users, Cisco Partners and engineers to learn what applications can be developed for their converged network
- Learn more about return on investment for Unified Communications solutions and applications
- Drive innovative application development for Unified Communications
Below is the list of winners and the application descriptions that were entered for competition:
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Agito Networks
www.agitonetworks.com
Description of Application
The Agito RoamAnywhere Mobility Router is the first and only network appliance that fuses WiFi, cellular, IP telephony and location awareness to mobilize business voice and data applications. The solution provides the ability to integrate existing dual-mode (cellular+WLAN) handsets into the Cisco UCM as mobile extensions providing access to unified communications across cellular and WLAN networks.
Business Problem Solved
- Poor In-Building Coverage: Agito’s RoamAnywhere solution, based on patent-pending RF and location technologies, enables low-cost, reliable, in-building coverage for mobile users by leveraging the Wireless LAN as a better alternative to in-building cellular
- Escalating Mobile Costs: Agito’s RoamAnywhere solution also reduces mobile costs by leveraging the enterprise and remote WLAN networks securely for VoIP calls
- Lack of Mobile Device Integration into Enterprise: Agito’s RoamAnywhere solution can enable you to increase your staff’s productivity by extending the Cisco UCM functionality to dual-mode (Cellular+WLAN) handsets
Vertical Markets Entered
Education
Healthcare
Manufacturing
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Description of Application
Brandeis University has created the first native Cisco remote door phone solution. By integrating a Cisco 7940 connected to a remote ruggedized outdoor speaker phone this solution works in a high noise high traffic environment. Visitors press the call button and are connected natively to your Cisco VoIP system. The result is a loud and clear conversation despite background noise or weather conditions.
Business Problem Solved
Faced with the challenge of providing a door entry solution to Brandeis University's Manhatten brown stone office, the team at Brandeis tried out several 3rd party solutions. None of the solutions could meet the call quality and aesthetic requirements. Despite repeated attempts to make these solutions work they all failed, one night for the chairman of the Board who was left out in the cold for 40 minutes! At that point the team turned to their internal talent who were able to convert an existing Cisco 7940 along with some off the shelf door entry parts into a high quality door entry phone. After over a year without problems this solution hit the mark and has consistently provided the required security and reliability the Manhattan office demands.
Vertical Markets Entered
Education
Healthcare
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Clarus Systems
Description of Application
Clarus Systems premier application, ClarusIPC®, is leveraged by enterprises, systems integrators and managed service providers to support the lifecycle of Cisco Unified Communications, from deployment through ongoing operations. ClarusIPC® Plus+ 2.5 with Configuration Management, offers an enhanced configuration management add-on module that includes extensive change tracking, monitoring, alerting and reporting.
Business Problem Solved
Configuration management provides expanded data discovery and change reporting including new add/remove/change reports, unity data collection, change tracking and reports, and new configuration views.
Vertical Markets Entered
Financial
Healthcare
Manufacturing
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Fidelus Technologies
Description of Application
The Voice Enabled Locator Solution (VELS) provides a simple to use interactive voice interface allowing individuals to track and locate people, resources and/or assets. VELS integrates and leverages Cisco's Unified Communications and AeroScout RFID solutions. The solution is intuitive and requires almost no training. Users simply launch an interactive voice session by pressing a speed dial labeled Location Services on a Cisco IP phone. After an initial voice prompt, "How can I help you", the user interacts with the system for the location of an asset or person (name or role) by asking simple questions, such as "Where is the nearest wheelchair", or "Where can I find the Hardware aisle". The service responds with a voice prompt and the location of the nearest asset or its fixed location. In addition, if applicable a list of the next closest assets and/or a diagram of the location, in order of proximity, is displayed on the IP phone's LCD screen. Customized workflows can also be incorporated into the solution.
Business Problem Solved
Reduces amount of time spent looking for assets or people, minimizes patient/customer waiting time, improves patient/customer satisfaction, streamlines workflow efficiency and increases productivity/revenue.
Vertical Markets Entered
Healthcare
Retail
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ISI Telemanagement Solutions
Description of Application
Business Intelligence and the Customer Experience Assessment provide valuable data directly from the user's telephony system showing how their employees, outside of the traditional customer contact centers, are communicating and interacting with customers. Data is pulled directly from the user's Cisco Unified Communications platform and compiled into easy-to-read reports showing Abandoned Calls, Ring Times, Trunk Capacity and Employee Productivity. A Customer Experience Assessment project will demonstrate to the customer the value of Business Intelligence in less than 60 Days using the customer's own data and without any investment in hardware or software.
Business Problem Solved
Business Intelligence and the Customer Experience Assessment help users evaluate and adjust how their employees are communicating and interacting with customers. The user is able to quickly identify and correct problem areas where customers are abandoning calls due to long hold times (costing sales), transferred calls are going unanswered by other departments and where additional employee training is required due to long talk times. In addition, Business Intelligence provides Network Management reports that enable users to right-size their systems, reduce unnecessary circuits and eliminate costs. Business Intelligence also increases employee productivity by enabling managers to track calling patterns and ensure that only the right people (e.g., Sales, Customer Service) are on the phones. Waste is eliminated and offenders can be re-trained or moved out of the position.
Vertical Markets Entered
Financial
Healthcare
Retail
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Polycom
Description of Application
Virtual Video Expert - Allows retail, healthcare or financial services professionals to press a button on their Cisco IP phone and be instantly connected to a subject matter expert via video.
Business Problem Solved
Allows service organizations to leverage a far flung mix of talent and connect experts anytime, anywhere they are needed instantly over video.
Vertical Markets Entered
Financial
Healthcare
Retail
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Description of Application
Syn-Apps SA-Announce Release 7 is the most robust notification system for the Cisco Unified Communications platform. SA-Announce provides an organization with a mature, reliable and flexible audio and text notification system. Release 7 introduces several 3rd party integrations to include 3n Global, Alertus, CyberData and Valcom. Integrations with Talk-A-Phone, SchoolMessenger and Nokia are currently under development. Release 7 has a completely redesigned user interface, integrates Broadcast Manager scheduled events, introduces the addition of several group types and now allows notification to be delivered via e-mail. Delivering audio, text, SMS*, e-mail and text to speech* notifications has never been easier. With the integrations mentioned above SA-Announce Release 7 becomes the backbone for your entire emergency and non emergency notification plan.
Business Problem Solved
SA-Announce is a robust and flexible audio and text notification system for the Cisco Unified Communications platform. With versatile configuration options and extensive 3rd party integrations, it is well suited to address all notification needs within an organization. SA-Announce delivers the ability to notify the entire organization both on-site and off-site via Cisco IP Phones, IP speakers, analog speakers, SMS*, E-mail, and text to speech out dialing* with a single call. (* 3rd party integration required to facilitate functionality)
Vertical Markets Entered
Education
Government
Healthcare |
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