Raytheon JPS, Cisco to market IPICS system

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. firm Raytheon said this week it was joining with Cisco to promote their new integrated communication solution.

Raytheon said in a statement that its JPS Communications operation would "collaborate with San Jose, Calif.,-based Cisco in an agreement to market an integrated local and wide-area communications solution."

"The effort combines the best of JPS and Cisco technology to dramatically improve interoperability for both military and civil customers," the company said.

"During emergency or normal operations, first responders, security professionals and military personnel require diverse communication devices, located at multiple sites, to operate together to share information. The integrated JPS ACU-2000 IP and Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System -- IPICS -- further extend traditional interoperable communications across agencies, suppliers and technology by taking advantage of an open-standards platform," Raytheon said.

"This collaborative approach will allow a senior official, using his internet protocol -- IP -- desk phone, to communicate with personnel in multiple locations accessing a hand-held radio, IP device, telephone, cellular phone or personal computer. This scalable technology will provide public sector agencies and enterprises the highest level of efficiency so appropriate resources can be applied to streamline operations and rapidly respond to any incident," the company said.

"With the ACU-2000 IP and Cisco IPICS, customers can benefit from JPS' best-in-class radio interface capability and Cisco's proven networking expertise in an open-standards platform," said Keith McDonald, vice president, sales and marketing, Raytheon JPS Communications.

"This helps enable seamless communications with many devices that have previously not been able to interface with one another, ensuring reliable, real-time, local and wide-area interoperable communications and enhancing operational effectiveness," McDonald said.

Raytheon said JPS Communications was "a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company (that) designs, manufactures and sells electronic hardware and software products that enhance the effectiveness of communications systems."