latest update: Oct2023 - updated some items & added relevant links
Dear all,
find below some quick notes on FLEX3 On premises CUCM model.
Commercial model for CUCM customers --> FLEX 3
FLEX 3 is the commercial model (subscription-based) to purchase CUCM onpremises licenses and support.
Benefits for CUCM customers:
- Better cash flow through monthly and annual billing options (in addition to pre-pay option)
- Additional functionality included – SRST (for all) and Webex advanced messaging (for Pro and Enh user lics)
- Allows access to new valueable options/services (like Webex Cloud Connected UC, Webex app to replace Jabber, etc.)
- Special pricing
- Offer Flexibility - you can select NU(Named user) or EA(Enterprise Agreement) offers. EA provides several benefits.
- Combine with other workloads - you can select ''onprem calling only'' or combine it with ''Meetings/Webinars'' or ''Webex Suite (+Events/Polling/Vidcast)''
- Flexible migration to the cloud (if desired)
Important notes:
Webex offers today free messaging (basic messaging) and free meetings(basic meetings) capabilities for all users.
For messaging: apart from ''advanced messaging'' entitlements that come with every flex 3 onprem Pro or Enh user, webex offers ''basic messaging'' entitlements for all users. So all your users can leverage the unique enterprise messaging features of Webex - all of them managed via your Webex Control Hub
For meetings: you could combine flex 3 onprem calling offer with meetings if desired - this will give you paid Webex Meetings entitlements. But note that even if you get only flex 3 onprem calling licenses, you could still leverage the free Basic Webex Meetings offering for all your users. More details here.
CUCM customers could use it for below cases:
- add new users
- upgrade existing users (for example add softclient to existing user,etc)
- support renewals
What about old traditional ordering path ?
Traditional perpetual part numbers (CUCM Essential,Basic, Enh, Enh Plus, CUWL) is not available for ordering since Jan2021.
Customers with existing SWSS could maintain them till 31 Jan 2024.
Related End of Sales can be found below :
End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Unified Workspace Licensing Standard Edition / Perpetual
End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Unified Communication Manager / User Connect Licensing- Perpetual
Is there a change on CUCM product itself if I order flex 3 onprem?
There is no change on the product itself and, of course, there are no plans for end-of-sale of CUCM solution.
CUCM development continues - CUCM 15 is expected soon - stay tuned
FLEX 3 license types and mapping with CUCM licenses :
So:
if you need multiple devices (users with softphones,etc) and voicemail --> Flex 3 Professional
if you need 1 device (phone or Jabber softphone) only --> Flex 3 Enhanced
If you need 1 devices (phone of type 7821,7811, 3905 analog) -- > Flex 3 Access
All license types offer SRST and MRA. Enh and Prof provide also advanced Webex messaging.
And, of course, there are options to combine onprem calling&meetings services (Calling and Meetings EA) or onprem calling+meetings+additional services( Events/Polling/Vidcast) (Webex Suite EA).
Important note on subscription and expirations:
Note that FLEX3 is subscription model and provides services while subscription is active. This means that, if Flex3 subscription is not renewed and expires, then CUCM system will move to ''out of compliance mode'' state and would provide 90 days grace period to allow customer to renew subscription. All services run without problem during this 90-day grace period. If 90 days pass and subscription has not renewed, then CUCM will move to ''enforcement mode'' and will not allow admin to do (MACD) Move/Adds/Changes/Deletion tasks.
So it is important to maintain your subscriptions and plan properly.
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Evolution path for CUCM customers
If interested, please have a look in below posts that describe evolution paths for CUCM customers and the great benefits that you could get with ''CCUC'' + ''Jabber to Webex app'' + ''Webex app calling integration with MSFT Teams''
Evolution paths for CUCM customers - a brief high level view (new)
Webex Cloud Connected UC - connect your CUCM to Webex cloud
Why migrate Jabber to Webex app? (ppt) (new)
Webex app calling integration with Microsoft Teams - this integration applies both to WxC and CUCM
Leverage the power of Webex app - callerid screenpop use case (new)
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hope this helps
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rgds
Alkiviadis
