Cisco Mpp Ip Phone
This article will explain the similarities and differences between Cisco Multi-platform Phones (MPP), which are made for small to medium size businesses,and Cisco Unified IP Phones, that are made for Enterprise (large) businesses
Cisco Mpp Ip Phone
Cisco Multiplatform Phones (MPP) provide Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)communication using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). SIP is the most oftenused signaling protocol that initiates, maintains, and terminates real-timesessions. These sessions may include voice, video, and messaging applications.This eliminates the need for traditional phone lines, making phones more portablewithin the company. With VoIP, a phone uses an existing network infrastructureand internet connection instead of costly T1 phone lines. This gives the ability tomanage more calls with fewer ‘lines’. Other beneficial options include placingcalls on hold, parking calls, transferring calls, and more. Some models allowvideo communication in addition to VoIP.MPP phones are built to look like a regular phone, and are used only for thatpurpose, but essentially, they are a computer and are part of your network. MPPphones require either service from an Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP)or an IP Private Branch Exchange (PBX) call control server. WebEx Calling, RingCentral, and Verizon are examples of an ITSP. Some examples of IP PBXservices that work with Cisco MPP phones include, Asterisk, Centile, andMetaswitch platforms.
Cisco Unified IP Phone
A Cisco Unified IP Phone, that runs on Enterprise firmware, also provides unifiedcommunications, just like the MPP phones do. They even have some of the samenumbers for their series of phones. However, these phones are intended for use exclusively with a Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), an internalcall manager. Only an Enterprise business, a large company, would purchase aCUCM, as it would be cost prohibitive for a small or medium size business.A phone intended for use with a CUCM cannot register with an outside ITSP or IPPBX. They are built to interact with the internal CUCM only. In that same regard,an MPP phone cannot be used with a CUCM.Note: If you recently purchased the wrong model of phone for your business, you
should exchange it for the correct one.
Convert Firmware
If returning is not an option, you can do a one-time conversion from MPP toEnterprise or vice-versa. This requires the purchase of a separate license foreach phone.
