Cisco and Citrix Systems Inc. have joined forces to embed
click-to-call functionality into applications delivered on the
Citrix Presentation Server. This will allow users to initiate voice
communications from nearly any application.
According to the two powerhouse vendors, click-to-call can be
used on any telephone number in any application deployed on the
Citrix Presentation Server. The user will be automatically
connected to that number via a Cisco Unified IP phone.
Barry Phillips, senior director of product marketing for Citrix,
said the addition of click-to-call eliminates the need for users to
switch out of applications and tools to make calls using Cisco IP
phones. He said the feature will add productivity, since users can
go seamlessly from the application to the phone.
The solution integrates Cisco Unified CallManager and Cisco
Unified IP phones with Citrix Presentation Server, Smart Agent and
Application Gateway, and can add click-to-call to applications that
are delivered with the Citrix Presentation Server or deployed
directly on the user's PC. Essentially, the technology recognizes
telephone numbers within applications and embeds pull-down buttons
next to the telephone numbers. Using the pull-down menu next to the
number, users can select "dial" and calls are automatically placed
via their Cisco Unified IP phones.
For example, in an email signature, a user could pull down and
with one click call the sender, eliminating manual dialing and
misdialing, which Phillips said can boost productivity.
Parsram Rajaram, senior systems analyst for the city of Winter
Park, Fla., said the addition of Citrix click-to-call into the
Cisco Unified CallManager has enabled the integration of
applications and telephony in an easy-to-use way that is also
simple for him to administer.
"Since our employees can dial their IP telephones right from any
application, they can collaborate without losing the precious time
it takes to switch between applications or devices," Rajaram
said.
Click-to-call works with any applications deployed on Citrix
Presentation Server, including Siebel, SAP, Oracle and Lotus,
Phillips said. He added that the ability to use click-to-call in
concert with applications and IP telephony builds Citrix's release
of a
click-to-call feature that works in most email and Web-based
applications.