(openPR) - Beginning in 2010, two versions of the CallManager telephone platform will reach end-of-life. Switching to Appia’s hosted service can eliminate upgrade worries and costs.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – December 17, 2009 – The clock is ticking for owners and users of two widely-deployed IP telephony systems.

Versions 3 and 4 of Cisco’s CallManager call-processing systems are approaching end-of-life and will no longer be supported. According to Cisco, all service and support for CallManager Version 3 will end on July 22, 2010. Versions 4.1 and 4.2 become obsolete on May 15, 2011. Thousands of businesses and organizations around the world are facing expensive upgrades as a result.

Appia Communications today announced a way for users to permanently shield themselves from upgrade costs without giving up the benefits of CallManager.

Appia’s hosted IP telephony services are based on the Cisco platform. This takes the entire burden — including management, maintenance, and upgrades — off the shoulders of end users.

“We’re hearing every day from people who can’t afford to risk having their phones on an unsupported system, but also can’t afford the upgrades,” said Bill Bollinger, Appia’s cofounder and vice president of IP communications. “By moving to a hosted VoIP service, those concerns go away. We handle the transition to new CallManager versions on their behalf, and seamlessly.”

Bollinger added that many of Appia’s customers also realize lower calling costs with the hosted service, and they gain access to Appia’s full suite of networking and communication services, including call center technology, video communication, and low-cost (or even free) audio conferencing.

“We take care of the phone system so our customers don’t have to,” Bollinger said. “By leaving it to Appia, they save time and money, and they’re better able to focus their resources on the bottom line.”

For more information on affordable CallManager upgrade strategies, call Appia at 877-277-4297, option 2.

To learn more about Appia, including all of its networking and communication services, customer case studies, partnership opportunities and more, please call 877-277-4297 or visit www.appiaservices.com.

About Appia Communications

Appia Communications is a leading provider of communication and networking services, enabling small and midsize companies and organizations to benefit from Internet Protocol (IP) technology for far less than the cost of an in-house implementation. Appia’s managed solutions help customers reduce costs, enhance employee productivity, improve customer care, and compete more effectively against much larger enterprises.

Headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, Appia has operations in Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis. Appia has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies (Inc., 2007, 2008 and 2009), one of the fastest-growing solution providers in the technology industry (CRN, 2009), and one of the top five managed service providers in the world (MSPmentor, 2008-09).

For more information, please visit www.appiaservices.com or call 877-277-4297. Appia is a Cisco Powered Network and holds advanced Cisco unified communications certifications.

Appia Communications
1030 Hastings St, Suite 100
Traverse City, MI 49686
USA
877-277-4297
info@appiaservices.com
www.appiaservices.com

Matt Cowall
Communications Manager
877-277-4297
matt@appiaservices.com