Cisco installs UK's largest IP telephony system

NEWS The system is part of consolidated IP voice and data services installed to cover Capital One's Nottingham headquarters and its small London office. Peter Knight, director of IT at Capital One, said: "This is the first stepping stone towards an enterprise-wide IP communications platform ultimately supporting all applications and media streams as a core function for ebusiness." The system is up and running for 600 users and will be extended as Capital One doubles its staff to 2,500 by 2002. It is currently used in most departments with the exception of the call centre. A spokesman said one of the telephones has already been used in a successful test while in the US. This is the first full installation of Cisco's AVVID (architecture for voice, video and integrated data), but the company installed over 800 pilot schemes between August and October this year. This proves, the company says, that voice over IP is valid.