Orlando, FL - Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced support for Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 with the BlackBerry® Wireless LAN (WLAN) solution to provide on-campus mobile users with IP telephony capabilities. Cisco and RIM have completed interoperability testing between the BlackBerry 7270 handsets and Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 via SIP (Session Initiation Protocol).
Together, BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ and the Blackberry 7270 can provide IT departments and users with an on-campus solution that delivers the same proven security, manageability, productivity and usability benefits that made BlackBerry the wireless platform of choice for millions of enterprise customers. In addition to supporting wireless email, messaging, organizer, Internet and intranet applications, the BlackBerry WLAN solution also provides Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony capabilities to BlackBerry 7270 handsets through SIP, allowing users to receive and make calls anywhere the enterprise provides IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN coverage.
RIM, a member of the Cisco Technology Developer Program for IP Communications, today confirmed that testing between the BlackBerry WLAN solution and Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 is complete and that the products have been verified to meet test criteria for interoperability. The Cisco Technology Developer Program sets criteria for interoperability testing and enables leading product and services firms to deploy innovative business solutions. The BlackBerry WLAN solution will be demonstrated in conjunction with Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 at Cisco's booth at VoiceCon (Booth #401 and #409).
"We are very pleased to be working with Cisco to extend voice capabilities to a growing segment in the enterprise market by collaborating around industry standards including SIP and 802.11 wireless networks," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. ?The BlackBerry WLAN solution helps expand the reach of the BlackBerry platform to on-campus workers by delivering advanced wireless voice and data capabilities that can enable significant productivity and workflow improvements inside an organization. With Cisco, we can now extend the benefits of the BlackBerry WLAN solution to enterprises that deploy Cisco CallManager 5.0.?
?Cisco supports open, standards-based architectures and shares a commitment to interoperable solutions with RIM and the industry as a whole. With this vision and the new rich suite of SIP line side services in Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0, enterprises can extend their Cisco end-to-end architecture with RIM's solid products and technologies,? said Barry O'Sullivan, Vice President, Cisco IP Communications Business Unit. ?With Cisco Technology Developer Program partner offerings such as the BlackBerry 7270 handsets, on-campus mobile users can have access to business critical voice and data communications from anywhere across the wireless enterprise.?
The RIM and Cisco collaborative relationship extends beyond the BlackBerry WLAN solution. It also provides benefits to customers with cellular-based BlackBerry handsets and Cisco MobilityManager or Unity Unified Messaging 4.1. For example, the Mobile Connect functionality in MobilityManager can support BlackBerry devices with "single number reach". The functionality can seamlessly "push" incoming calls on the desk phone extension to the user's BlackBerry handset wherever they are. It also allows users to continue in-progress calls on their BlackBerry handset while stepping away from their desk phone (and vice versa), and to place calls from a BlackBerry handset that routes over the enterprise IP Communications network under the control of Cisco Unified CallManager.
Cisco has also developed a plug-in for BlackBerry Enterprise Server that integrates with Unity Unified Messaging 4.1 for instant call playback on WLAN or cellular-based BlackBerry handsets. When a message is recorded in voicemail, BlackBerry users will automatically receive an email with a unique embedded link. A simple click of the link will cause the Unity messaging system to call the user on their BlackBerry device and play the voice message. Such integration can make it easier for users on the move to stay on top of time sensitive issues and improve productivity.