Cisco Pumps Branch Offices

Cisco delivers more applications and new business Models

April 11, 2008

3 Min Read
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HONOLULU -- Cisco today announced newsolutions that further optimize branch offices of all sizes, allowing companies to customizebranch networks to meet their unique business needs. By opening its industry-leading CiscoIntegrated Services Router (ISR) and Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) platformsto customers and third-party application developers, Cisco enables its customers to optimize thebranch infrastructure while extending their accessibility to business resources. It also providesCisco channel partners with new opportunities to deliver differentiated solutions and services thatbetter align with customers’ business needs.

Cisco also introduced an array of new security, wireless and unified communication products andservice innovations that elevate branch-office worker productivity and deliver informationtechnology (IT) operational efficiencies.

Cisco continues to enhance its Empowered Branch solution set (see press release titled “CiscoIntegrated Services Router Achieves 4 Million Milestone”), and highlights of today’s newofferings include:

  • Cisco Application eXtension Platform. The Cisco AXP consists of open, Linux-basedCisco ISR hardware modules for application development and hosting to support a tighterintegration of the network and applications. Multiple off-the-shelf and custom applicationsare available today, along with a development and support ecosystem that includes adownloadable software development kit (SDK) and application programming interface (API)for application developers.

  • Cisco WAAS WAE-674 Wide Area Application Engine with Virtual Blade Technology.Further opening the branch to third-party applications, the newest Cisco wide-area network(WAN) optimization platform, the Cisco WAE-674, takes advantage of unique “virtualblade” technology to host third-party applications, beginning with Microsoft Windows Server2008.

  • Cisco 880 and 860 Series ISR. These are the first fixed-configuration routers to provideintegrated lightweight access points supporting Cisco Unified Wireless and IEEE 802.11nwireless local-area network (LAN) technology, 3G wireless WAN support for improved highavailability, and specialized support for managed services.

  • Enhanced Unified Communications and manageability. Cisco also introducedenhancements to Cisco Unified Border Element and integrated management of voice, securityand data services with new Cisco Configuration Professional Management Software.

    Cisco Opens Network Platform to Third Parties for Application InnovationThe Cisco AXP offers tighter integration between the network and business applications to helpcustomers achieve greater business efficiencies and innovation. Based on an open Linuxarchitecture with an open interface to Cisco IOS® Software, the Cisco AXP is delivered vianetwork modules and Advanced Integration Modules (AIMs) on the Cisco ISR. Multipleapplications can be supported on a single AXP module concurrently, optimizing the footprint inbranch offices.Cisco also introduced a new AXP category in its Technology Developer Program (TDP) toprovide customers, independent software vendors, system integrators and service providers withthe technical and marketing support they need to create, develop and distribute AXP-basedsolutions. The Cisco AXP SDK allows developers to create specific solutions for industryverticals and unified communications-based applications, and network and management utilities.They take advantage of the underlying security, mobility, WAN optimization and unifiedcommunication capabilities provided by the Cisco ISR.

    This flexible integration and customization of the Cisco ISR opens new business opportunitiesand routes to market for Cisco channel partners, enabling them to differentiate their serviceofferings and reach a broader customer base.

    “The Healthcare Connector based on the Cisco Application eXtension Platform is an ideal answerto our requirements. It is a single box with multiple technologies combined into a highly secure,cohesive end-to-end solution,” said Valeri Tzekov, M.D, the deputy minister of health forBulgaria. “It could be a key element for the e-health infrastructure we are currently introducingin Bulgaria. It can help us contain administration and transaction costs in healthcare, reducefraud, cut down on costly errors, and improve quality of primary healthcare.”

    Cisco Systems Inc.

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