7/19/2007 -- If Cisco Systems Inc.'s unified communications (UC) push is to be successful, the networking giant must establish a partner ecosystem that's diverse enough to effectively support it.

Cisco's aspirations in this respect got a shot in the arm this week when voice-over-IP (VoIP) telephony provider Cbeyond announced that its BeyondVoice with SIPconnect service interoperates with Cisco's Unified Communications 500 Series IP communications system for small businesses.

Analysts say the move is an encouraging development for Cisco's burgeoning UC stack.

"[T]he move shows the headway Cisco is making in building solutions based on its newly released small business voice system," said Brian Riggs, research director for enterprise communications with consultancy Current Analysis.

At the same time, Riggs stressed, Cisco can't yet afford to rest on its laurels: "[Cbeyond] is only one among many offering SIP trunking services. Cisco will need to build out a greater network of service providers supporting the system."

What's to like about the announcement? Plenty, said Riggs.

"[This] marks the first time Cisco has publicly announced interoperability between unified communication 500 Series and an [Internet telephony service provider's]...SIP trunking service," he said. "[The] verification of interoperability between UC500 system and Cbeyond's SIP trunking service shows forward momentum in the delivery of solutions based on this newest member of Cisco's business communications platform offerings."

In this respect, Cbeyond and its focus (small businesses of no more than 250 employees) fits well with Cisco's small business aspirations.

"This is a good match for the UC500, which is targeted at small businesses needing a communications system with roughly 16 lines," Riggs said. "The assistance of small business specialists such as Cbeyond will also help Cisco, whose communications division has had greater success in targeting larger organizations with IT departments and CIOs familiar with and appreciative of Cisco networking systems." --Stephen Swoyer