Cisco has its sights set on easing the transition to Unified Communications, with the launch of its new Intercompany Media Engine (IME) server set to debut later this month. The idea is simple, an IME server at each site will be tasked with finding the best way to route an incoming call over the Internet or private IP network. The result will see users making phone calls as they always have, but with the resulting conversation conducted over cheaper VoIP channels. In addition, IME also allows users to start a video conference using existing telephone numbers.

For now, IME will only work with Cisco UC infrastructure, though Tony Bates, who is the senior vice president and general manager for Cisco's Enterprise, Commercial and Small Business Unit, said in a briefing that IME will in the future work with any UC system that implements Viper, a new protocol designed by Cisco. Cisco has submitted Viper to the Internet Engineering Task Force to be considered as a standard.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at eWeek
- check out this article at ChannelWeb 

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