What is Cisco Webex Calling? Since Cisco acquired BroadSoft in February 2018, customers and resellers have eagerly anticipated and discovered snippets of new functionality. In addition, VARs and managed service providers changed some of their brands to include the powerful Cisco Webex brand and became accustomed to dealing with a giant in the telecommunications world rather than the absolute leader in the cloud phone systems market.
The biggest change in the way BroadSoft solution providers do business is the introduction of Cisco Webex Calling. So, with brands familiar with years of the BroadSoft ecosystem, I thought it best to take a look at what the Cisco Webex Calling solution is all about.
What is Cisco Webex Calling?
Cisco Webex Calling is essentially a cloud phone system. Looks familiar, right? For BroadSoft users, this is primarily a brand change. Cisco has taken the best parts of the BroadSoft infrastructure and ecosystem and added them to its Webex cloud. This includes additional security features associated with Cisco. In August 2018, Cisco acquired the security service provider Duo. Duo integrates with Cisco Webex to provide several methods to add two-factor authentication and flexible security policies to Webex single sign-on (SSO) logins.
BroadSoft customers can still implement the “old style” services they know and love, but it’s not clear for how long.
For Cisco customers, this is a refreshing addition to the portfolio – and an alternative to a hybrid or on-premises phone system. The true addition of the cloud opens the door to features such as HD calling, intelligent routing with online administration, and iOS integrations to enable mobility.
What is Cisco Webex Calling Includes?
Cisco Webex Calling Finally Enables Cloud Unified Communications for Cisco’s Portfolio. It took a long time for one of the biggest names in the telecommunications industry to arrive. But they have to find out with BroadSoft.
Webex Calling comes prepackaged with standard cloud PBX functionality such as call pickup, group search, music on hold, transfer, and voicemail. Administration and management feature come in the form of the Webex Control Hub. Here IT administrators can maintain and change their business telephony configuration via an online portal. Former Cisco users will be accustomed to a much more complex user experience, requiring training and skills to master the configuration of a Cisco PBX.
End users can also access the self-service portal. Here the user can access their own phone number and activate settings such as Do Not Disturb or Forward – without having to create a ticket.
Cisco Webex Calling is also the first step in team collaboration for Cisco users. Companies that don’t use a Microsoft Teams or Slack-like interface to collaborate internally or externally can do so with Cisco Webex Teams. Webex Teams pairs with your Cisco Webex Calling IP phone so you can make and receive calls using the Webex Teams app or use the app as a phone controller. Voicemails can be received on Webex Teams instead of calling the handset every time.
The Webex Teams mobile app continues the desktop and desktop phone experience when you’re on the go. Colleagues using Webex Teams can automatically start a new Webex Teams space when they make or receive a call. This automatically activates the collaboration experience, encouraging file sharing and teamwork.
Cisco Webex Calling Integration
Cisco has an extensive portfolio of telephony and cloud products. Of course, it is expected that a cloud phone system offering will be natively intertwined with the phone package.
Cisco Webex Meetings is the out-of-the-box meeting add-on. Webex Meetings should be a household name for millions of users around the world. Webex Meetings has evolved over the years to provide a seamless meeting experience from an app on your computer, smartphone or tablet, or even a Cisco room device.
Cisco Webex Teams is Cisco’s permanent team chat or messaging offering. The Cisco Webex Calling suite, previously online-only, can now be included in your Webex Teams license. To enable calls from your Webex Teams application, you need an M1, M3, C1, or C3 license.
When using Webex Teams, you can use the Webex Application Hub. Included here are bots and integrations to connect to your Webex Teams client to maximize workspace productivity and get the job done with minimal application change.
Common Cisco Webex Calling integrations include:
- asana
- Over there
- Box
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
- GitHub
- Jira server
- OneDrive for Business
- Sales team
- Trello
Cisco users can integrate Webex Calling with different IP devices. The Cisco IP Phone 7800 Series supports knowledge workers, conference rooms, shared spaces, and lobbies.
The Cisco IP Phone 8800 Series offers the next level. Here you will be introduced to features such as LCDs, Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, USB, and HD video.
As in the BroadSoft world, Analog Terminal Adapters (ATAs) can also be supplied to connect analog devices to the VoIP configuration.
What Does Webex Calling Not Include?
Users only want it when it comes to true cross-platform collaboration. Typically, departments within the company bought together through mergers, acquisitions, or just personal preference have a variety of phone systems and collaboration platforms.
Cisco supports a huge ecosystem of partners and many third-party applications can be found through the application hub or by talking to your Cisco account manager. Depending on your exact wishes, they are better equipped to guide you to the right integration partner.
Webex Calling does not yet offer PSTN services. When you order Cisco Webex Calling, you must purchase PSTN services from a local partner. Again, your Cisco account manager should be able to guide you to the most suitable partner. They will also have to offer emergency calls. Without access to a PSTN, emergency calls cannot be routed correctly.
Buy Cisco Webex Calling
To add Webex Calling to your current Webex stack, all you need to do is contact your Cisco account manager. For further questions, you can find a local Cisco partner through the partner locator.
Cisco Webex Calling Pricing
A complete, enterprise-level cloud collaboration suite that includes everything your business needs. Powered by the power of Cisco Webex Calling.
Standard license with the phone for calls
- £10.75
- Per-user per month
- 250 minutes from UK landline included
- hunting parties
- Free extension number
- Call forwarding
- online portal
- call forward
- 6-way conference calls
- paging
- voicemail
Advanced license with phone and collaboration app
- £13.25
- Per-user per month
- Unlimited minutes from UK landline
- Calls, Messages, and Meetings in the Webex App
- hunting parties
- Free extension number
- Call forwarding
- online portal
- call forward
- 6-way conference calls
- paging
- voicemail
- Desktop client for video calls and messages
- Mobile client for video calling and messaging
- Team Collaboration Client (Webex Teams)
- Online meetings for up to 3 participants
Webex Work with Calls, Meetings, and Messaging
- £19.95
- Per-user per month
- Unlimited minutes from UK landline
- Calls, Messages, and Meetings in the Webex App
- Full Subscription to Webex Meetings
- hunting parties
- Free extension number
- Call forwarding
- online portal
- call forward
- 6-way conference calls
- paging
- voicemail
- Desktop client for video calls and messages
- Mobile client for video calling and messaging
- Team Collaboration Client (Webex Teams)
- Online meetings for up to 1000 participants
- Company Webex URL, e.g. companyname.webex.com
Download Webex Calling
If your administrator has selected the correct calling behavior for you, you can install the Webex Calling app to have more calling features at your fingertips. You can use the Webex Calling app as a standalone calling app or as a companion app when placing Webex calls.
Beginning with version 22.9.8 of the Webex Calling desktop client, Windows versions of the client are distributed in MSI (Windows Installer) format instead of EXE format. Windows MSI files are installed in the same way as EXE files but offer a better installation process. The MSI files are distributed via the current download links from the Calling User Portal. No user changes are required.
1. Go to https://settings.webex.com, click Download Webex Calling.
This will take you to the My Apps page of the Calling User Portal.
If you see the Webex Calling Desktop App with S4B Integration, your company is configured to use the Webex Calling S4B App with the Microsoft Skype for Business desktop app, allowing you to make and receive calls from outside your organization. The Webex Calling S4B application is only available on Windows. Make sure the Microsoft Skype app and Webex Calling S4B app are running to receive calls.
2. Download the app to your desktop.
3. Click Run or Save and follow the instructions
4. During the installation of the Webex Calling app, you can choose to install a Microsoft Outlook add-in to initiate an Outlook call or search Outlook contacts in the app.
You must have the following for the integration to succeed:
Microsoft Outlook 2013 (32 and 64 bit), Microsoft Outlook 2016 (32 and 64 bit), Outlook 2019, Outlook 365
Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows 8.1, and Microsoft Windows 10
5. Select your region and then enter the app to start calling.
If you enter an incorrect region, you can always change it by going to Options and Edit Credentials.
Benefits:
- Great software for conversations and meetings.
- Easy to connect and maintain large numbers of people.
- Great way to upload files and show projects.
Cons:
- Sometimes it stops working and the audio gets disconnected.
- Rest everything works fine.
