General Dynamics Achieves Cisco TelePresence Authorized Technology Provider Status

General Dynamics Achieves Cisco TelePresence Authorized Technology Provider
Status
General Dynamics to adapt enabling technologies to make meeting and
collaborating easier for government decision-makers.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics C4 Systems
announced today that it has achieved TelePresence Authorized Technology
Provider (ATP) status from Cisco. This designation recognizes General Dynamics
as having fulfilled the training requirements and program prerequisites to
sell, deploy and support Cisco TelePresence in the U.S. and internationally.
Cisco TelePresence Meeting is a revolutionary new category of products
that create live, "face-to-face" meeting experiences over an Internet Protocol
(IP) network. It combines the reach, intelligence and reliability of the
network with the simplicity of a telephone interface to deliver an entirely
new way for people to meet and collaborate. Cisco TelePresence Meeting is the
first application of Cisco TelePresence technology.
"We believe Cisco's TelePresence represents a 'game-changing' way for our
federal and civil agency customers to meet and collaborate over the Internet,"
said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems. "As a leading
systems integrator for U.S. government agencies and the Department of Defense,
we will be adding important enabling technologies, including Type 1
encryption; bandwidth management and quality of service applications; and
advanced collaboration and visualization tools, for a turnkey, secure,
IP-based communications solution that can reach to tactical environments."
Richard McLeod, director of united communications for worldwide channels
at Cisco, said, "Cisco TelePresence changes the entire realm of communications
and collaboration. As a Cisco TelePresence ATP partner, General Dynamics has
made an investment in the sales, technical and lifecycle services capabilities
that our customers need to help them successfully deploy complete solutions."
The Cisco Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) Program is part of Cisco's
go-to-market strategy for emerging technologies. The program helps Cisco to
define the knowledge, skills and services that channel partners need to
successfully sell, deploy and support an emerging technology.
About Cisco TelePresence
The Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution combines the industry's first
ultra-high-definition 1080p video with high-quality, wideband spatial audio,
imperceptible latency and comprehensive environmental design. Meeting
participants feel as if they are in the same room, even though they may be on
separate continents. With the ability to see and hear others in
ultra-high-definition video and wideband spatial audio, users truly experience
the subtleties and nuances delivered by body language, eye contact and facial
gestures that make up more than 60 percent of communications. With Cisco
TelePresence, participants focus on the meeting and not the technology.
Additional Features and Benefits
The Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution features one-button-push
operation, a full complement of lifecycle support services and multi-location
meeting capability. General Dynamics will work with Cisco to enhance the
meeting tool for expanded military and government use. This includes adapting
commercial-standard network management protocols and interfaces; adding
software that enables collaboration through sharing of individual workstation
information during a TelePresence meeting; and adding high-grade,
high-assurance cryptographic capability for embedded security.
General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics
(NYSE: GD), is a leading integrator of secure communication and information
systems and technology. General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va.,
employs approximately 84,000 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of
$27.2 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and
expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine
systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the
company is available on the Internet at http://www.generaldynamics.com.
SOURCE General Dynamics C4 Systems

Fran Jacques of General Dynamics C4 Systems, +1-480-441-2885, or Cell,
+1-480-586-1886, Fran.Jacques@gdc4s.com