Cox Business Adds Managed Equipment to Voice Service Options

Cox is First MSO to Earn Cisco Managed Services Certification

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Feb 07, 2011, 01:00 ET

ATLANTA, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Business announced today that its voice services now include a managed IP PBX solution based on Cisco's Small Business Communications System.

Cox recently became the first cable operator to achieve the Cisco Managed Services Channel Partner Express Certification and has launched the Cox Managed IP PBX+ service in Oklahoma and Las Vegas.

The new Cox Managed IP PBX+ service provides an integrated, feature-rich, premise-based, IP-PBX communications system. Small business customers with limited or no internal IT department are equipped with a telecommunications system that is monitored and managed by Cox Business, 24/7. Any indications of "trouble" are resolved by Cox Business immediately, often before the customer recognizes the problem. Businesses can share features between up to five networked locations, including four-digit dialing, without incurring long-distance toll charges. Productivity-enhancing applications such as a PC-integrated toolbar and soft phone allow secure access to communications features for employees working remotely.

The service is designed specifically to address small and medium businesses with less than 100 employees, many of which have limited in-house IT resources. Cox Business plans to extend the Managed IP PBX+ service to additional Cox markets in 2011.

"Managed IP PBX+ provides advanced communications capabilities to small businesses that prefer onsite telecom equipment and frees them to more strategically allocate resources to core business activities," said Kristine Faulkner, vice president of product development and management, Cox Business. "Cisco is a recognized data networking and VoIP leader and validates Cox's commitment to partner with best-in-class technology organizations to expand the business product portfolio to meet diverse customer needs."

The Cisco certification recognizes a solution provider's investment in the processes, practices and tools necessary to provide high-quality managed services. As a Cisco Managed Services certified partner, Cox Business has demonstrated the ability to deliver sophisticated solutions and has met stringent requirements that reflect a depth of capabilities.

Cox Business has a long-standing commitment to voice innovation. It was one of the early adopters of Voice over IP technology and, in 2007, Cox became the first cable provider in North America to deploy a fully-owned and managed IP telephony service for businesses, Cox Business VoiceManager. In addition to the new Managed IP PBX+ service, Cox Business is expected to launch SIP Trunking in 2011, allowing customers to more efficiently route voice traffic over Internet Protocol.

Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 260,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is the fourth largest provider of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and the company ranked highest among small/midsize business data service providers in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Major Provider Business Telecommunications Study(SM). Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports more than 800,000 business phone lines. For more information about Cox Business, Click Here or call 1-800-396-1609.

About Cox Communications

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves more than 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising.

Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for five years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity, and the company holds a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

SOURCE Cox Communications