General Dynamics Achieves Cisco TelePresence Authorized Technology Provider Status

July 8, 2008

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

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