Q & A
Cisco IP Communicator
Q. What is Cisco® IP Communicator?
A. Cisco IP Communicator is a software-based application that delivers enhanced telephony support through
personal computers. This application allow computers to function as Cisco IP Phones, providing high-quality voice calls on the road, in the office, or from wherever users can access the corporate network.
Q. Who are the target customers?
A. Cisco IP Communicator is designed for businesses with diverse end users who require a supplemental telephone
when traveling, a telecommuting device, or a primary desktop telephone. When using Cisco IP Communicator remotely, users are taking not only their office extension with them, they have access to the same familiar phone services they have in the office.
Q. Is there a migration or upgrade path from Cisco IP SoftPhone 1.3 to Cisco IP Communicator?
A. No. Cisco IP SoftPhone 1.3 and Cisco IP Communicator are not related products, and there is no migration
or upgrade.
Q. What are some feature differences between Cisco IP Communicator and Cisco IP SoftPhone?
A. Cisco IP Communicator provides the same feature capabilities found on advanced Cisco IP Phones today,
as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Features of Cisco IP Communicator and Cisco IP SoftPhone
Features Supported
Cisco IP
Communicator Cisco IP SoftPhone
Multiple Lines or Directory Numbers Yes No
Call Control Features: • Shared Lines • Park, Pickup, • Meetme Conference • Barge
Yes No
Extensible Markup Language (XML) Support Yes No
Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP Yes No
Automatic Software Updates Yes No
Date and Time Display Yes No
Various Background Images Display Yes No
Phone Control Mode No Yes
Q. What release of Cisco CallManager is required?
A. Cisco CallManager Version 3.3(3) Service Releases 3 and 4 are required. Q. How is Cisco IP Communicator provisioned?
A. The system administrators provision Cisco IP Communicator as they would any other Cisco IP Phone,
which simplifies Cisco IP Phone management.
Availability, Pricing, and Ordering
Q. When can I order the Cisco IP Communicator application? A. Cisco IP Communicator will be available in the first half of 2004. Q. Is a Station User License required?
A. Yes.
Q. How do I order Cisco IP Communicator?
A. Order Cisco IP Communicator throughhttp://www.cisco.com.
Features and Functions
Q. What are some features of Cisco IP Communicator?
A. Cisco IP Communicator is intuitively designed, easy to use, and delivers convenient access to a host of features:
• Eight Line Keys—These keys provide telephone lines and direct access to telephony features. • Five Softkeys—These keys dynamically present call feature options to the user.
• Messages—This key provides direct access to voice-mail messages.
• Directories—Cisco IP Communicator identifies incoming messages and categorizes them on the screen. This allows users to return calls quickly and effectively using direct dial-back capability. The corporate directory integrates with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol 3 (LDAP3) standard directory.
• Settings—This key allows users to select from a large number of ringer sounds and background images. • Services—Cisco IP Communicator allows users to quickly access diverse information, such as weather, stocks,
quote of the day, or other Web-based information. The phone uses XML to provide a portal to an increasing world of features and information.
• Help—The online Help feature gives users information about the phone's keys, buttons, and features.
Drag and Drop Dialing No Yes
Alphanumeric Translation No Yes
System Tray Icons No Yes
“Enter” and “Esc” Key Mapping for Dial and Disconnect No Yes
Table 1 Features of Cisco IP Communicator and Cisco IP SoftPhone (Continued)
Features Supported
Cisco IP
Q. What telephony features are supported?
A. When registered to the Cisco CallManager, Cisco IP Communicator has the features and functions of a
full-featured Cisco IP Phone, including the ability to transfer calls, forward calls, and conference additional participants to an existing call. Other advanced features currently available are:
• Support of multiple lines or directory numbers • Configurable speed dials
• Calling name and number display • Call waiting • Park • Pick up • Redial • Call hold • Barge-in
Q. What listening modes are supported?
A. Cisco IP Communicator offers handset, headset, and high-quality speakerphone modes:
• Headset Mode—Interoperates with third-party Universal Serial Bus (USB) telephony headsets • Handset Mode—Interoperates with third-party USB telephony handsets
• Speakerphone Mode—Converts the computer into a half-duplex, hands-free speakerphone
Q. What are the minimum computer requirements? A. Cisco IP Communicator computer requirements include:
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (SP3) or Windows XP (SP1) • 450 MHz or higher Pentium III or compatible processor
• 128 MB RAM for Windows 2000 or 192 MB RAM for Windows XP • 100 MB free disk space
• Nonintegrated service adapter full-duplex sound card (integrated or peripheral component interconnect-based) or USB sound device
• Graphics card at 800x600x16 bit or better • 128 kbps network connection
Q. What network features are supported?
A. Cisco IP Communicator supports the following network features:
• Cisco Discovery Protocol for integration with Cisco Emergency Responder • G.711a, G.711 , G.729, and G.729a audio codecs
• Wideband audio codec
• Software upgrade supported using Trivial File Transfer Protocol or HTTP
• Compatible with Cisco CallManager Versions 3.3(3) service releases 3 and 4 • SCCP
• Quality of Service IP Precedence (differentiated services code point) Audio Priority – Layer 3 support
– Audio and Signaling (SCCP) packets are marked (bit=5)
Q. Is Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) supported? A. SRST is not supported at introduction.
Q. Are shortcut keys available?
A. Yes. Shortcut keys are available but are not configurable. Q. What shortcut functions are available?
A. See Table 2 for shortcut functions.
Table 2 Keyboard Shortcut Functions
Keyboard Shortcut Function
Ctrl+D Opens and closes the Directories menu Ctrl+S Opens and closes the Settings menu Ctrl+V Opens and closes the Services menu Ctrl+M Opens the voice message system Ctrl+I Opens and closes the online help system Ctrl+H Toggles headset mode on and off Ctrl+P Toggles the mute feature on and off Ctrl+T Toggles the mute feature on and off
Ctrl+ (Number keys 1 through 8) Opens and closes line buttons or speed dial buttons 1 through 8
Alt+S Opens the Preferences dialog box Alt+K Opens the Quick Search directory feature
Alt+X Exits Cisco IP Communicator
Alt+F4 Closes Cisco IP Communicator
Page Up Increases volume for the current audio mode Page Down Decreases volume for the current audio mode F2 through F6 Activates softkeys 1 through 5
Q. Is Cisco Emergency Responder supported?
A. Yes, it is supported in Cisco Emergency Responder Version 1.2(2).
Note: Cisco Emergency Responder does not discover Cisco IP Communicator when connected through the switch
port of a Cisco IP Phone.
Q. What headsets or handsets are available?
A. Cisco IP Communicator supports both analog and USB handset and headset capability. USB HID (Human
Interface Device) -support is based on telephony device page (0x0 B) and supports keypad and hook switch only. Proprietary APIs for handset and headset devices are not supported.
Q. Is localization supported?
A. Cisco IP Communicator supports English. Q. What desktop appearances (skins) are available?
A. Cisco IP Communicator has two skins available (Default and Mercurio) and a screen only mode. Currently, the
skins are not customizable.
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Q. Can I use Cisco IP Manager Assistant application? A. No.
Q. Can I use Cisco CallManager Attendant Console with Cisco IP
Communicator?
A. Yes. Cisco CallManager Attendant Console may be used to
provide an all-software solution for console positions.
Q. Does Cisco IP Communicator support third-party application
integration, such as Microsoft Outlook dialing Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) support?
