Millennium BCP, the largest private financial group in Portugal, has contracted with Cisco Systems for the implementation of a secure IP-based voice and data network and the supply of 15,000 IP phones.
Millennium BCP will be replacing its various telephone systems from multiple vendors with a Cisco Unified CallManager system and 15,000 Cisco Unified IP phones at more than 900 office and branch locations in Portugal.
Cisco says future plans will extend the network and communications system to 600 international branches.
The vendor says the convergence of voice and data on a single network will support the development of effective multi-channel banking strategies by making it easier to provide a consistent level of service and information to customers, whether they interact through the branches, the phone or the Internet.
Carlos Brazão, general manager, Cisco Systems Portugal, says the Millennium BCP order includes the shipment of the vendor's nine millionth IP phone.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.