Tag: cisco

EPOS Announce IMPACT 500 Headset For UK & Ireland Market

Manufacturer EPOS today launches the IMPACT 500, an on-ear Bluetooth headset for professionals with dynamic workstyles who demand unrivalled call clarity and active noise cancellation – with a forthcoming option to go dongle free!

The IMPACT 500 combines high-end technology from EPOS AI™ enabling industry-leading voice pick-up, with EPOS BrainAdapt™ that lessens brain fatigue and enhances focus and productivity by as much as 40%, according to internal studies.

Adaptive microphone technology powered by EPOS AI™ intelligently identifies and shuts down noise, heightening the clarity of the speaker’s voice. By using adaptive beamforming technology with three microphones that scan environments 32,000 times per second, the speaker’s voice remains clear and crisp in any open office setting.

The IMPACT 500 will be EPOS´ first native Bluetooth headset – certified for Microsoft Teams Open Office with a planned future software release that supports Teams over native Bluetooth. The dongle-free option creates a more simplified and seamless user experience, with no USB port requirements whilst establishing direct connection to a PC, mobile phone or tablet. It comes with certifications for leading Unified Communication platforms – Microsoft Teams, Zoom Workplace, Cisco WebEx and Google Meet.

The latest headset innovation benefits from EPOS BrainAdapt™ technology that provides a state-of-the-art hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) system, which lessens brain fatigue caused by poor audio, boosting focus and productivity throughout the workday. Proven through clinical studies, EPOS BrainAdapt™ improves the user´s performance and communication by blocking out noise, reducing listening effort by as much as 67%.

Key features include: 

 

  • Clear, natural voice with EPOS industry-leading voice pick-up: EPOS AI™ and expertly tuned microphones remove unwanted noise, making remote conversations feel as real as being there in person. 

 

  • Seamless Microsoft Teams certified calls: Microsoft Teams certified with a future software release that will add support for Teams over native Bluetooth® – For dongle free calls.

 

  • Stay in control of your environment with hybrid ANC: Effectively reduce background noise during calls and when you need to focus, ensuring you remain productive in any work environment.

 

  • Professional performance all day long: Communicate with confidence all day with over 36 hours of talk time, talk-through mode and intuitive boom arm call control.

 

  • Protects from listening fatigue: EPOS BrainAdapt™ technology protects against brain fatigue caused by poor audio and noise, boosting focus and productivity.

The IMPACT 500 is a key addition to the expansion of the IMPACT line of headsets, as EPOS continues to deliver on its mission of unleashing human potential by perfecting audio experiences and steering innovation towards the needs of the global workforce of today and tomorrow.

That’s the view of Jesper Kock, VP of Research & Development at EPOS, who says the IMPACT 500 is designed for office-based as well as hybrid professionals with dynamic workstyles. It can be purchased with or without a dongle, for maximum user convenience.

“The IMPACT 500 continues to reflect our industry-leading pedigree based on cutting-edge innovation and exceptional audio performance, from finely tuned microphones to hybrid ANC and our renowned BrainAdapt™ technology. Native Bluetooth represents the next step in our pioneering headset technology journey, ensuring simpler pairing and no USB port requirements.”

MRSP from £169. Availability: November 4, 2025. Find more information at www.eposaudio.com

See our headset reviews 

Viatel Technology Group has secured three significant Cisco specialisations

Viatel Technology Group, Ireland’s leading SD-WAN provider, has secured three significant Cisco specialisations, solidifying its commitment to end-to-end customer value, systems integration, and environmental sustainability.

The achievement, a ‘hat-trick’ of Cisco Customer Experience Specialisation, Cisco Select Integrator, and Cisco Environmental Sustainability Specialisation, reinforces Viatel’s standing as a strategic partner driving digital transformation for Irish enterprises.

Eilish O’Connor, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Viatel Technology Group, commented on the achievement:

“Securing these three Cisco specialisations is a powerful validation of our team’s deep expertise and our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. For our customers, it means they are partnering with a provider that not only understands complex Cisco technology but is also deeply invested in their success at every stage, from initial strategy to long-term sustainable operation.”

This strategic milestone builds on Viatel’s established reputation as Ireland’s   number one SD-WAN provider, managing over 300 networks and nearly 1,000 configured devices across the country.

Sheila Greaney, Partner Account Manager at Cisco, congratulated the Viatel team:

“Viatel, as an indigenous Irish company, truly embodies the spirit of trust and collaboration that defines our partnership. Together, we have built a strong, enduring relationship grounded in shared values and mutual success.”

Damien McCann, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Viatel, added:

“Customer success drives everything we do. We’ve invested heavily in our capabilities, and that appetite for excellence has enabled us to maintain our position as Cisco’s number one SD-WAN partner. These achievements reinforce our ability to deliver real results for our customers and push the boundaries of what’s possible in technology and service delivery.

“These specialisations open up new opportunities for Viatel to deepen our partnerships, deliver even greater value, and help our customers unlock the full potential of their technology investments at every stage of their journey.”.

World’s first virtual hospital – Cisco, University of Galway

Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking and security, has announced a joint initiative with the University of Galway and CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices in Ireland, to create a research framework for the world’s first ‘Virtual Hospital’, serving patients with diverse conditions at every stage of their healthcare needs.

As part of the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme, the initiative, which is already in pilot, is aligned to the ambitions of Ireland’s 10-year health and social care reform Sláintecare, to avoid unnecessary hospital admission and support patients at home.

Greater patient power

The objectives of this initiative, powered by Cisco technology, are to help increase access to services, convenience, and improve outcomes for patients. It will also seek to provide patients the ability to play an active role in their own recovery. The virtual platforms are designed to mean patients will not only be able to monitor their progress, but also provide patients direct access to educational materials, and the ability to participate in the decision-making process with their healthcare providers.

Unlike other initiatives around the world which deliver individual speciality virtual wards, this initiative brings together multiple clinical areas and stages of treatment to provide seamless care. These include community virtual care pathways for enhanced monitoring of chronic conditions such as COPD to enable admission avoidance. In addition, it is enabling virtual outpatient clinics for remote appointments with integrated multiparameter diagnostics.

Delivering virtual care

Cisco technologies, including networking, cybersecurity, Webex devices and application visibility solutions, are delivering mission critical digital infrastructure to power operations, connecting patients with their healthcare providers, wherever they may be, and ensuring reliable mobile data connectivity for seamless virtual care.

Underpinned by Cisco networking infrastructure, myPatientSpace and patientMpower mobile health apps provide the virtual hospital’s digital platform that helps patients track key health metrics and monitor symptoms from home. Clinician’s will connect to real-time dashboards that display information on a patient’s condition, alerting medical professionals to changes so they can detect deterioration early and deliver timely care.

Initial feedback from patients during the setup of the initiative has been highly positive with comments including: “you’re not having to travel to go to a consultant, and they can do it from their office as well… you have the GP on it, and another doctor too. For me, that’s a complete positive”; “all my information from the monitoring was there in front of me on the screen. I found it all very useful, and in some way better than in person.”

The University of Galway HIVE Lab has developed a range of digital care solutions for local patients in this groundbreaking study, enabled by Cisco technology such as Webex integrated Virtual Consultations. The initiative is using innovative AI technology such as dynamic appointments where patients with chronic diseases are automatically triaged to an appropriate outpatient clinic slot based on their clinical need (e.g. Blood Pressure, HbA1c values). In addition, the HIVE lab has developed smartphone-based software that uses AI enabled cameras to help monitor patients’ rehabilitation exercises to ensure that they are doing them in the way their physiotherapists prescribed to aid rapid recovery from operations.

Reduced workload and financial pressure

The virtual hospital research initiative is leading the way in tackling rising pressure on Ireland’s health system, particularly its funding and staffing needs. It will aim to prove a framework that could contribute to the lightening the workload of healthcare professionals thereby increasing staff retention, while minimising operational costs and optimising the use of healthcare resources.

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK, early value assessment study on virtual ward platform technologies demonstrated their cost-effectiveness, with an estimated £872 (€1,020) saving per person compared with inpatient care and by £115 (€135) per person compared with care at home without a virtual ward.

To date, in the initial setup stage of the project in Ireland, approximately 350 ‘bed days’ have been saved by patients who have been supported at home via a COPD virtual care pathway as part of this project work.

Quotes:

Professor Derek O’Keeffe, Project Principal Investigator, Professor of Medical Device Technology at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway, said: “This research project offers an innovative virtual solution to a real global healthcare problem. It will explore new ways of providing care to our patients using next generation technology and new clinical pathways to improve health and economic outcomes”.

Brian Jordan, Country Digital Acceleration Lead, Cisco Ireland, said: “Digital technology is critical to the future of healthcare and is capable of extending care well beyond hospital walls, right into patients’ homes and in the heart of their local community. Cisco is proud to be supporting this ground-breaking 360° care delivery model that aims to streamline processes, alleviate staff workload, and reduce financial pressures on public healthcare services.”

Commenting on the significance of the initiative, CÚRAM Director, Professor Abhay Pandit, said: “This project is one of the largest industry collaborations our centre has supported to date. It is an excellent example of the impact that collaborations between CÚRAM and industry can have on local communities and society at wide.”

Reaching more patients

The initiative expects to support hundreds of patients across the Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation virtual care pathways in the Galway region. With the development and rollout of virtual outpatient clinics this is expected to extend to thousands of patients next year.

Remote digital solutions

This latest project builds on other pilot digital healthcare studies supported by Cisco in remote parts of Ireland. Enabled by its CDA programme, this includes the Home Health project in Clare Island, home to an aging population of 160 residents and challenged by extreme weather conditions. Care solutions in the Home Health project include smart wearables to track vital signs; drones to fly in prescriptions; virtual reality headsets to deliver training for nurses; and a robotic dog to triage emergency health issues.

Revolutionising Connectivity in Ireland: Renewtech’s Affordable Refurbished Cisco Access Points

Efficient connectivity has become the backbone of modern businesses, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. Renewtech is transforming how companies in Ireland meet their networking needs through its range of refurbished Cisco Access Points. Combining affordability, sustainability and high-quality performance, these devices provide reliable and secure connectivity for businesses across various sectors.

Affordable Solutions for Diverse Business Needs

Renewtech’s refurbished Cisco Access Points offer a cost-effective networking solution for businesses of all sizes. Smaller organisations, often constrained by limited budgets, gain access to enterprise-grade technology that supports scalability and growth. Larger enterprises benefit from substantial cost reductions, enabling better allocation of financial resources across their IT infrastructure. The affordability of these devices addresses a critical need for high-quality connectivity without the premium price of new hardware; by choosing refurbished solutions, businesses can stretch their budgets further while maintaining access to industry-leading technology.

Reliability That Supports Productivity

Businesses depend on stable and consistent connectivity to maintain seamless operations. Renewtech’s refurbished Cisco Access Points deliver exceptional reliability, making them a dependable choice for enterprise networks. Each device undergoes rigorous testing and refurbishment to meet strict quality standards. The result is a network infrastructure capable of handling demanding workloads while minimising downtime, allowing businesses to focus on their core objectives. Reliable connectivity reduces operational risks, guaranteeing networks remain functional even in high-pressure scenarios.

Advanced Security for Today’s Challenges

In a climate of increasing cyber security threats, network security remains a top priority for businesses. Refurbished Cisco Access Points from Renewtech integrate robust security features that help safeguard sensitive data and prevent unauthorised access. These devices address critical security requirements with sophisticated encryption, advanced authentication protocols and secure configuration options. Comprehensive protection confirms businesses can safely manage sensitive operations while complying with industry standards and regulations. These features collectively create a resilient network infrastructure capable of mitigating evolving cyber threats.

Adaptability for Varied Environments

A versatile networking solution is essential for businesses operating in diverse environments. Renewtech’s refurbished Cisco Access Points are designed for both indoor and outdoor applications, making them suitable for office spaces, retail environments, industrial facilities and beyond. Devices built for outdoor use feature weather-resistant designs capable of withstanding challenging conditions while indoor models prioritise efficient coverage and scalability. Ultimately, adaptability helps businesses seamlessly expand or reconfigure networks as their operational needs evolve.

Promoting Sustainability in Technology

Reducing environmental impact has become a strategic priority for many organisations. Renewtech supports these efforts by extending the life cycle of high-performance networking hardware. Refurbishing devices prevents electronic waste from accumulating and reduces the demand for resources required to manufacture new equipment. Sustainable practices like this align with corporate social responsibility goals, giving businesses an environmentally conscious way to maintain technological competitiveness.

Balancing Cost Savings with Performance

A careful balance of cost-effectiveness and technical excellence characterises Renewtech’s refurbished offerings. Businesses achieve significant financial savings while benefiting from the advanced features and robust performance associated with Cisco’s industry-leading access points. This balance allows organisations to meet their networking requirements without compromising quality, enabling them to invest in other critical areas of growth and development. Ergo, access to cost-effective, high-performing solutions can help businesses maintain a competitive edge in their markets.

Preparing Businesses for the Future

The pace of digital transformation continues to accelerate, with reliable connectivity playing a central role in business success. Renewtech’s refurbished Cisco Access Points offer businesses a forward-looking solution that aligns with the demands of a digitally driven world. These devices combine advanced technology with adaptability, meeting the evolving needs of organisations across industries. Future-ready connectivity lays a strong foundation for innovation, allowing enterprises to confidently embrace emerging technologies.

Connectivity Solutions Redefining Business Success

Renewtech’s refurbished Cisco Access Points represent a significant advancement in networking solutions for businesses in Ireland. The emphasis on cost savings, sustainability and dependable performance addresses critical business needs across industries. With adaptable, high-quality devices, Renewtech empowers organisations to optimise their IT investments while reducing environmental impact. These solutions are driving a new era of connectivity, enabling businesses to thrive in an interconnected and digitally advanced world.

Leveraging the Power of CISCO Contact Center and Siebel CRM Integration for Optimal Productivity

Do you want to maximise customer experience and enhance productivity in your organisation? The computer telephony integration of Cisco Contact Center and Siebel CRM provides businesses the opportunity to effectively collaborate, communicate, and coordinate with their customers more effectively.

In this blog post, we will examine how companies leverage this technology for improved performance capabilities and optimal productivity. We’ll also take a closer look at how companies from different fields have accelerated business growth through the effective use of Siebel CTI integration.

What is Siebel Integration

Siebel Integration is a crucial aspect in ensuring the seamless flow of data throughout your organisation’s different systems. When integrating the Cisco contact centre with Siebel, the CTI Connector embedded within the communication toolbar makes the process much easier.

Siebel has call and controls for agent states that allow agents to focus on customer interactions without the need to switch between multiple applications. The integration allows for streamlined communication, which ultimately translates to a better overall customer experience.

How Does it Work 

Siebel CTI integration allows for the automatic retrieval of customer data from the company’s CRM system and presents it to the agent in a user-friendly format. This saves time and minimizes errors that may occur when agents manually search for customer data.

Additionally, the integration enables call routing and screen-pop features, automatically connecting agents to the appropriate department based on the customer’s query and can access relevant screen information. Siebel CTI ensures that customer service agents have access to accurate information, resulting in more effective and streamlined interactions with customers.

Benefits of Siebel Integration for Your Business 

Streamlines Operations

Efficiency is crucial in today’s business environment, particularly in contact centres where every moment spent interacting with customers counts. Siebel CTI integration is a valuable asset for contact centres as it saves time. By streamlining operations, businesses can increase productivity, reduce costs, and ultimately enhance the customer experience.

Siebel CTI integration seamlessly integrates various applications, including CRM solutions. This integration ensures that customer data is readily available and a smooth experience is provided to every customer.

Provides Intelligent Routing

Siebel CTI integration is crucial for maximising efficiency and effectiveness in modern contact centres. It uses telephone network data and IVR information to direct each incoming call to the most suitable agent. By implementing the Siebel CTI integration, contact centres can improve the customer experience and increase the rate of resolving issues on the first call. This means no more guessing games or unnecessary transfers.

Facilitates Agent Training

Siebel CTI integration has the ability to monitor agent performance in real time. Managers can easily track calls, allocate resources, and provide instant feedback to agents. This ensures that agents are well-trained and equipped to handle customer interactions seamlessly. 

Additionally, streamlined operations enable contact centres to deliver better customer experiences, which is increasingly becoming a priority for modern businesses.

Key Challenges of Siebel Computer Telephony Integration 

Security

Siebel Computer Telephony Integration presents a significant challenge when it comes to security. As much as it can undoubtedly make things easier and more efficient, it also opens a potential gateway for unauthorised parties to access your system. Take voicemail, for example. If you have an outside phone, anyone willing to take the time to figure out the password and access the mailbox can intercept and listen to messages.

Even with password protection, there’s still a fundamental issue. The system requires message retrieval, which means it’s not airtight. It’s up to companies to work with their IT teams and CTI providers to ensure that strict security protocols are in place to prevent any sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands, making security a key challenge in Siebel CTI implementation.

Complexity

Integrating Siebel Computer Telephony with existing systems is no easy feat. The level of complexity involved can prove to be quite a challenge. Setting up the system and ensuring that it runs seamlessly takes a significant amount of time and effort. 

The troubleshooting and technical support needed can add to the complexity, which puts more pressure on IT departments. Despite these challenges, Siebel Computer Telephony Integration can enhance business productivity and efficiency, making the effort well worth it.

Choosing the Right Solution for Siebel Integration 

Choosing the right solution for CTI integration is vital to achieving optimal results for your business. It’s important to take a comprehensive approach when making this decision, ensuring that you understand your needs, research the available features, and carefully review integration capabilities. 

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that the solution you choose is scalable and able to grow with your business and that technical support is available to help you through any challenges that may arise. If you need to integrate CTI, b+s connects by Bucher + Suter is the top choice. Their expertise and solutions are unmatched, making them the best option for all your integration needs.

Conclusion

Integration of CISCO Contact Center and Siebel CRM is an excellent way for businesses to maximise productivity and increase operational efficiency. The intelligent routing feature ensures that customer needs are addressed in a timely manner, while the streamlined operation processes reduce overall costs. Additionally, by allowing agents to gain access to customer and product data quickly, it eliminates common frustrations and additional delays.

Implementing this integration can be a daunting task, but by working with knowledgeable and experienced partners like Bucher + Suter you can be certain that your business will have the optimal solution for their contact centre needs. Overall, incorporating Siebel into your contact centre environment is a powerful solution that provides important perks for any organisation looking to increase its customer service effectiveness.

 

Viatel Technology Group partners with Cisco to offer sustainable networking solutions for Irish enterprises

Viatel Technology Group, a leading provider of networking solutions and digital services, has announced an initiative to help its customers reduce their carbon footprint and be more sustainable when refreshing their networks. Viatel customers can now return used hardware to be responsibly reused and recycled. By recycling end-of-life equipment, companies will reduce e-waste, helping them to achieve their sustainability goals and reach their targets for a circular economy.

Access to this takeback scheme is a result of Viatel recently being awarded Cisco’s Sustainability Certification. The certification recognises that Viatel, a Cisco Partner, is committed to providing sustainable networking and IT infrastructure solutions that are not only good for the environment, but also reduce operational costs and increase efficiencies. Cisco, the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet, has committed to achieving 100 % product return on end-of-use hardware globally, a goal that Viatel has now pledged to support.

Eilish O’Connor, CTO with Viatel Technology Group, said “We are very proud to have been awarded the Sustainability Certification by Cisco and to be in a position to help our customers to be more sustainable in their network refresh efforts. Like so many companies, our customers have become more environmentally conscious. When discussing network refreshes and updating IT infrastructure, the sustainability of our proposed solutions has become part of the conversation for the first time. Achieving this specialisation allows us to operationalise environmental sustainability practices in a meaningful and practical way.”

Eilish continued, “Viatel Technology Group’s commitment to sustainability is part of its broader mission to deliver reliable, cost-effective, and innovative network solutions to our customers. By prioritising sustainability, the company is not only reducing its impact on the environment but also helping our customers to do the same.”

Viatel Technology Group CEO, Paul Rellis, congratulated the team on this latest accreditation, “Our team is constantly upskilling to stay on top of the latest innovations from our global partners. The sustainability certification is special because it resonates so strongly with our own company values. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to our communities and our environment and to reducing our own carbon footprint.”

Viatel Technology Group delivers its award-winning fully managed SD-WAN service exclusively on Cisco Meraki technology. Earlier this year, Viatel published Ireland’s first SD-WAN Report, supported by Cisco.

 

For more information about sustainable networking options, visit www.viatel.com.