Imagine being able to leverage enterprise-grade cloud calling, mobility, and PBX features, along with Cisco Webex for messaging, Webex Meetings for meetings, and calling from a soft client or Cisco phone. That's exactly what Webex Calling has to offer, along with a smooth transition to the cloud for customers with 100 or more users and existing on-premises PBX infrastructures.
Webex Calling provides the following features and benefits:
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Calling subscriptions for telephony users and common areas.
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Secure and reliable cloud services delivered by trusted regional service providers
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The Webex Calling App for desktop and mobile devices, providing comprehensive calling capabilities for mobile workers. (Our calling app is typically private-labeled by the service provider.)
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Webex access for every user, adding rich unified communications and team collaboration services.
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Cisco Webex Meetings as an optional, integrated add-on to provide the premium meetings experiences that enterprise users expect.
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PSTN provided by the partner service provider
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Tier 1 support provided by your partner, next level support provided by Cisco
Cisco Webex Control Hub (https://admin.webex.com) is a web-based management portal that integrates with Webex Calling to streamline your orders and configuration, and centralize your management of the bundled offer—Webex Calling, Webex, and Webex Meetings.
Difference Between Webex Calling for Service Providers and Value Added Resellers
There are two separate calling offers that leverage the same Webex Calling platform. One offer is for service providers (SPs) and their customers while the other offer is for value added resellers (VARs) and their customers. For the most part, the offers are identical and as such, we refer to them generically as Webex Calling. However, there are a couple differences and where we need to call out those differences, we'll make sure you know whether they apply to SPs or VARs.
While both offers are administered in Control Hub with cross-launches into the Calling Admin Portal, here are some key differences.
SPs can brand their calling portals and apps and must bundle and provide their own PSTN services to their customers or leverage a local gateway deployment. SPs must also provide their own Tier 1 support.
VARs, on the other hand, use the branding provided by Cisco. VARs are not regulated service providers and cannot provide PSTN service. PSTN service must be leveraged through an enterprise local gateway deployment. VARs can also provide their own Tier 1 support or use Cisco's. Both calling offers provide service assurance through media quality metrics and can bundle Webex and Webex Meetings together with their calling applications.
Configuration
Control Hub is the central point for provisioning all services. Control Hub supports the calling of APIs and provides cross-launch points to the Calling Admin portal for detailed configuration for your Webex Calling deployment. Provisioning of any additional services under the Webex family (Webex Meetings and Teams) also happens in Control Hub.
User Experience
Control Hub is the primary administrative experience with the ability to cross launch into the Calling Admin portal for detailed configuration where necessary. Users, however, have access to the following interfaces:
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Webex Calling application—Soft client for calling that's branded by service providers (VARs use the Webex Calling app, branded by Cisco).
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Calling User Portal—Application that is accessible when cross-launched from https://settings.webex.com.
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Webex—Application that is included in the subscription as a Cisco branded Team Messaging client.
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Webex Meetings—Application included in the Webex Calling service.
Customer Administrators
As a customer administrator on a trial or paid subscription to Webex Calling, you can set up your organization in Control Hub by adding locations, licenses, phone numbers, calling features, users, and Workspaces (room devices that register to the Webex cloud). You can manage all these components from there as well.
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For guidance, see the Configuration Guide for Cisco Webex Calling Customers.
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For more information on the Webex Calling offer, see Cisco Webex Calling in the Cisco Collaboration Flex Plan for End Customers Data Sheet
Partners
As a partner service provider, you can brand, market, and sell Webex Calling to your customers. You can set up and extend trials, deploy services for your customers, and create and provision orders for your customers.
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For guidance, see the Configuration Guide for Cisco Webex Calling Customers (Early Partner Enrollment Program).
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For more partner resources, see the Webex Calling Sales Connect resources. (Requires partner credentials.)
Availability
See the Webex Calling header in the Where is Cisco Webex Available article for countries where Webex Calling is available for sale.
