Item: Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Call Manager)
Rating: 10
Author: Shawn Dietrich

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Call Manager to provide our enterprise with voice connectivity. It allows us to centrally administer over 180 offices and close 500 remote workers.

Pros and Cons

Call Manager has easily scaled with our growing business.
Ease of deployment to end users.
Ease of management for phone and it’s firmware.

The GUI interface could certainly use a refresh. It’s been a few years since there update.
Integrate management of other UC solutions (i.e. Unity, Emergency Responder)

Return on Investment

Positive ROI impact has been the reduction of local voice circuits and equipment.

Alternatives Considered

Avaya Business Communications Manager and Microsoft Unified Communications as a Service

Ultimately it will come down to the administrator's preference. Cisco has led the market for some time. But Avaya continues to make advancements that are comparable to Cisco. Microsoft is also attempting to break into the market but does [not] have the end to end solution like Cisco.

Other Software Used

Microsoft Office 365

Likelihood to Recommend

Well suited for any enterprise that is looking to centralize disparate voice systems and are looking for a gig level of control from end to end.

Call Manager Use in the Enterprise

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Call Manager)