Logicalis Earns Cisco Master Unified Communications Specialization

    BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI, September 21, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A history of providing sophisticated, value-added unified communications solutions to its customers has earned Logicalis the Cisco Master Unified Communications Specialization in the United States. As organizations increasingly move to make working with customers, partners and internally across teams easier, unified communications becomes a central set of tools for making it a reality. Logicalis is committed to helping organizations come together to provide customer service that is remarkable and driving better collaboration within work teams.

Logicalis Vice President of Cisco Solutions Bob Hankins explains the significance of the specialization. "Achieving the Cisco Master Unified Communications Specialization is a huge step for Logicalis," he said. "Not only does it highlight the hard work and dedication that our unified communications specialists devote to each of our customers' implementations, it shows that Logicalis is willing to do whatever it takes to fully develop relationships with leading technology companies, like Cisco. It says a lot that we have more than 130 Cisco certified individuals."

The Master Unified Communications Specialization is awarded only to Cisco partners having already attained the Advanced Unified Communications Specialization. A stringent set of requirements must then be met for consideration, resulting in an elite few Cisco partners earning the master specialization. In fact, Logicalis not only met the requirements, they exceeded them.

Partners must meet the following requirements to demonstrate their master-level capabilities and customer success track record in order to be considered for the Master Unified Communications Specialization:

• Customer success: Must provide, annually, five customer references for successful delivery of integrated, multiple unified communications solutions and application integration in areas such as contact center, unified messaging, rich media, mobility, and presence solutions.
• Technology expertise: Must meet additional technical requirements, such as additional CCIE certified individuals (CCIE-Voice, for example), industry-recognized project management credentials, and Cisco and third-party application integration experience.
• Services capability and methodology: Must be able to provide comprehensive services assessment across the Cisco Lifecycle Services phases, including ISO prescribed skills for the operate phase and post-implementation support.

Even if a partner meets these requirements, achieving the Master UC Specialization is not a guarantee. In order to protect the integrity and value of the specialization, Cisco also requires an annual onsite audit. Partners are asked to provide validation of third-party certifications, proof of specific business processes, and proof of proficiency in unified communications technologies.

"Achieving any Cisco Master Specialization represents a large commitment of time and resources, as well as an extremely talented and well-versed technology team that is capable of delivering on Cisco's strict requirements," Hankins continued. "We are extremely honored to receive this specialization and are hopeful that it will allow us to leverage even greater opportunities for our customers."

The recognition places Logicalis in elite company; only 24 Cisco technology partners across the United States have been able to achieve this prestigious designation. Cisco awards its Master Specialization to channel partners that have the most in-depth technology skills and demonstrated customer success in selling, deploying and supporting sophisticated Cisco Unified Communications solutions.

In addition to achieving the Master Unified Communications Specialization, Logicalis is a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, having achieved Advanced Specializations in the following areas: Data Center Networking Infrastructure, Data Center Storage Networking, Routing & Switching, Security and Wireless LAN. Logicalis was also approved for the UCS Advanced Technology Program.

For more information about Logicalis, visit www.us.logicalis.com.

About Logicalis
Logicalis is an international provider of high-performance technology solutions. With more than 1,500 people worldwide, Logicalis delivers smart solutions based on specific needs, not the latest IT trend. Logicalis provides options, direction and support to more than 6,500 corporate and public sector customers. The company attributes its success to the everyday positive experiences with its customers and strategic partners such as IBM, HP an, d Cisco.

Logicalis has annualized revenues in excess of $1 billion, from operations in the UK, US, Germany and Latin America. Logicalis is a division of Datatec Limited (LSE/JSE:DTC), a $4 billion multi-national organization listed on the AIM market of the LSE and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With more than 30 offices in the United States, the company's U.S. headquarters are in Bloomfield Hills, MI. For more information about the Logicalis experience, visit www.us.logicalis.com.

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