If you have spent any time configuring Cisco voice gateways, you have likely struggled with dial-peer matching. Until recently, things were reasonably straightforward. Telephone directory numbers (extensions) were typically four digits. When a call came in from the outside, the carrier typically sent just the last four to seven digits. When you wanted to place…

The rapid pace of business change today doesn’t affect only product development and marketing – it also affects finance departments. Effective collaboration can be especially useful for finance departments that need to execute change quickly and effectively. CDW’s own finance department offers a great case in point. The department recently undertook an extensive re-engineering process…

Many people believe hosted voice and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) are the same thing. I suppose you could argue they’re similar, and certainly Hosted Voice is a component of UCaaS since you can’t have UCaaS without a dial tone. However, I think there are several differences. When considering moving away from an on-premises…

Over the last 13 years, I have seen countless advanced technologies in the telecom world. Networks have gone from ATM and Frame Relay to MPLS and VPLS and even Layer 2 through the years as users demands have evolved.

In December, Cisco provided a tasty holiday treat by releasing their latest software that integrates Cisco’s telephony systems with IBM’s social communications platform, IBM Sametime.  Cisco calls it CUCI-IBM (Cisco UC Integration for IBM Sametime), pronounced “Cookie” IBM.  My wife would tell you I’m a fan of cookies in general, but I’m quite excited by…