911 Services

In an effort to establish a highly advanced, enterprise-class IP telephony call-processing system, many organizations have deployed multiple clusters of Cisco Unified Communications (News - Alert) Manager (CUCM), which offers traditional phone service, video, presence, conferencing, mobility and other unified communications features.

While this infrastructure provides large enterprises with an integrated communications system, it can create significant challenges for implementing E911 solutions when these clusters are running different versions of CUCM, which happens quite often when companies deploy updated adaptations of Cisco's (News - Alert) solution a cluster-by-cluster basis.

To address this need, 911 Enable created its Emergency Gateway (News - Alert) (EGW). This on-site appliance enables large organizations to offer comprehensive E911 support without having to upgrade their entire network. Decision makers at enterprises and campuses can feel comfortable running different versions of CUCM knowing that their E911 solution is capable of working with a complex network in a cost-efficient and intuitive manner.

Furthermore, 911 Enable (News - Alert) designed the innovative appliance with the mobile user in mind. EGW provides E911 support for extension mobility cross cluster (EMCC), meaning users can login to an IP phone through a visiting cluster while having all the same advantages of being at their home cluster.

"911 Enable has given us the control and flexibility to manage our E911 solution for Cisco according to our priorities and requirements," Frank Williams, Chief Technical Officer, Hamilton/Clermont Cooperative Association, noted in a recent testimonial. "We've been able to enhance the safety of our students, teachers, and staff, while keeping costs low."

EGW is a crucial product for organizations that are not in a position to upgrade their network through a singular migration. The appliance enables enterprises and educational institutions to advance their Cisco network through a piecemeal approach while continuing to provide E911 capabilities, including automatic discovery of IP phones, softphones, and wireless phones, pinpoint 911 caller identification and on-site security desk routing and notification.

To learn more about how 911 Enable's solutions can benefit organizations that have implemented multiple cluster CUCM, click here.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Patrick Barnard