Cisco Fuels SMB Commitment With Host of New Solutions

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - November 5, 2007) - Continuing its commitment to the small and medium-sized business (SMB) marketplace, Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced a suite of new additions and updates to the Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS). Extensions to the portfolio include technical services, the tripling of unified communications capabilities up to 48 users, and the addition of four new Ethernet switches. Cisco also announced that its SMB channel initiative, Select Certification, has grown to nearly 1,000 channel partners worldwide over the last two months.

"As a small professional services firm our reputation for superior customer service is our biggest asset. As a result, our ability to communicate is absolutely critical to our business," said Chris Chase, managing partner at Everything Tradeshows, a nine-employee professional services company in Davie, Florida. Working with Cisco Premier Certified channel partner CPT of South Florida, the company deployed the Cisco SBCS to help improve its communications capabilities and boost the productivity of its telemarketing efforts. "By using Cisco's one-click dialing, our telemarketer has been able to increase the number of calls in a four-hour period from 20 to 100, a 400 percent improvement. The ability to reach more potential clients has already helped us secure a large order for retractable banner stands and popup displays," Chase said.

Today, Cisco is expanding the SBCS solution set as follows:

--  Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series adds 32- and 48-user systems.
    The initial release of the Unified Communications 500 Series addressed the
    unified communications needs of small businesses with eight to 16 users.
    These two new platforms allow small businesses to support up to 48 phones
    per location.
--  Cisco SMARTnet Service for SBCS is Cisco's award-winning technical
    support service program, offering multilevel service options and access to
    an extensive range of technical resources. Sold by a Cisco channel partner,
    customers get direct, anytime access to Cisco engineers for configuration
    assistance, problem diagnosis and recommendations through 24-hour telephone
    or Web-based support. The offering also includes software assurance with
    application and Operating System software updates and upgrades.
--  Cisco Catalyst® Express Ethernet Switches provide flexibility of
    configuration to meet different networking requirements.  The four new
    switches offer 24 10/100 access ports with Power over Ethernet (PoE); 4
    10/100 access ports with PoE and 20 access ports 10/100; 24 ports of
    Gigabit Ethernet; or 24 10/100 access ports.
--  Cisco Mobility Express: Cisco has added ease-of-deployment features
    for the Cisco 521 Wireless Express Access Point and Cisco 526 Wireless
    Express Mobility Controller.  They include an easy-to-set-up guest access
    portal; automatic policy configuration for voice, data and guest access;
    simplified security set-up with preset low-, medium-, and high-security
    options; and integration with Cisco Configuration Assistant.
    

The Cisco Smart Business Communications System provides voice, data, video, security and wireless capabilities, while integrating with existing desktop applications such as calendar, email, and customer relationship management programs. Designed for the unique needs of small businesses, the system is comprised of hardware products, integrated unified communications applications and system-management tools designed to complement each other and provide communications building blocks. With the assistance of a Cisco Certified Channel Partner, the all-in-one communications solution is easy to install, use and upgrade. For more information on SBCS, visit www.cisco.com/go/sbcs.

Building an SMB Channel

Cisco is actively building the global capacity and capabilities of channel partners that support small-business customers. It recently launched Cisco Select Certification, a new entry-level designation specifically for SMB-focused channel partners. With a goal of adding 5,000 Select Certified Partners over the next 12 months, Cisco is aggressively recruiting and training channel partners around the world. The initiative is rapidly building momentum, adding approximately 100 new partners per week.

Cisco is also helping partners expand their managed-services capabilities and improve customer service by adding new capabilities to Cisco Monitor Director. This proactive solutions-management tool allows Cisco channel partners to offer outsourced, multi-customer, 24-hour network management services. It now scales to enable monitoring up to 100 managed customers and provides support for any Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)-capable and IP-addressable device. The solution provides comprehensive, real-time monitoring, alerting and reporting to help partner troubleshoot and fix issues remotely.

Cisco Capital currently provides innovative financing solutions to SMB customers in 23 countries through its EasyLease financing platform. EasyLease programs include the "conserve i.t." zero percent progress payment program for Cisco Unified Communications solutions in North America, and zero percent financing for Cisco Unified Communications solutions in Europe.

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Contact Information: Press Contact: Gareth Pettigrew 604 647 2326 gpettigr@cisco.com Investor Relations Contact: Marisa Ross 408 527 9830 mariross@cisco.com Industry Analyst Relations Contact: Charlie Guyer 978 936 0825 chguyer@cisco.com