More than 30 million users worldwide rely on Cisco Unified Communications Manager across industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, government, and defense where calling is mission critical. Many of these organizations cannot move fully to the cloud due to reliability, security, or compliance requirements, so their proven UCM infrastructure remains essential. In the past, this meant they could not benefit from rapid cloud innovation. With Webex Calling Hybrid, they can now modernize by keeping their trusted on-premises UCM while gaining access to the latest cloud capabilities.
Cisco UCM: Proven Foundation for Cloud Innovation
Cisco Unified Communications Manager remains the market-leading on-premises calling platform trusted by enterprises that depend on reliability, security, and control. Cisco is fully committed to its long-term future. Since UCM version 14, we delivered more than 125 security enhancements, more than 300 product improvements, several new certifications, and a core OS transition to Alma Linux.
SU1, SU2, and SU3 for UCM 15 are already available, with SU4 and SU5 planned for calendar year 2026. Our ongoing innovation is focused on simplifying administration, improving client and user experiences, strengthening security and compliance, enabling cloud connectivity, and expanding deployment flexibility through new hypervisor options such as NFVIS-for-UC and Nutanix AHV.
Cisco’s roadmap continues with UCM 16 and additional releases planned well into the next decade. This proven and trusted foundation is what enables Webex Calling Hybrid, giving organizations the ability to bring cloud innovation to their existing UCM environments.
Learn more about Cisco UCM 15 and Beyond in this on-demand webinar:
Webex Calling Hybrid: Bridge the gap between proven premises and cloud innovation
Webex Calling Hybrid extends the latest Webex Calling cloud innovations directly to Cisco UCM environments. It allows organizations to preserve their existing UCM investment while layering in modern cloud capabilities through a Webex Calling trunk.
This approach is ideal for businesses that rely on the proven reliability, security, and continuity of Cisco UCM, or that operate in regions or industries with compliance or geographic constraints. With Webex Calling Hybrid, organizations can maintain their trusted UCM foundation and selectively adopt cloud features where they provide the greatest value.
Webex Calling Hybrid is a portfolio of modular capabilities that can be deployed independently—site-by-site or user-by-user—to meet each organization’s unique needs. Some of the key features available or planned for Webex Calling Hybrid include:
Cloud PSTN
Bring the agility of cloud PSTN to UCM. Cloud Connect reduces on-premises telephony infrastructure and enables agile, global reach through a growing ecosystem of more than 40 Certified Calling Providers. It’s available now, with Cisco Calling Plans coming in calendar 2026.
AI Receptionist
A 24/7 virtual receptionist that answers calls, handles inquiries, routes callers, schedules appointments, and more, so your employees can focus on high value customer interactions. AI Receptionist is fully customizable with business goals, instructions, and a tailored knowledge base. Coming in H1 CY2026.
AI Assistant for Webex Calling
Make every interaction more efficient and productive with AI Assistant for Webex Calling. Employees get intuitive, AI-powered tools built directly into the Webex app—including live call insights, post-call and recorded summaries, shared summaries, and automatic action items. This means no more handwritten notes and no more lost details. Teams always have fast, accurate context from every conversation. Coming to UCM in H1 CY2026.
Webex Calling Customer Assist
Bring cloud-enhanced queueing to your customer facing teams with Webex Calling Customer Assist. Agents gain real-time visibility into queue activity along with AI-powered tools like caller intent and suggested responses in the Webex app, while supervisors benefit from live monitoring tools, call sentiment, and actionable analytics. Coming to UCM in H1 CY2026.
Webex Go
Make enterprise mobility easier to manage with Webex Go. Easily provision and manage mobile calling on personal or corporate mobile phones through Control Hub. Deliver a simple calling experience through the native dialer on Apple and Android mobile phones, with the ability to seamlessly elevate calls to a video call or meeting on the Webex mobile app. Coming to UCM in H1 CY2026.
Enterprise Calling features
Webex Calling Hybrid will bring essential calling features like IVR, auto attendant, voicemail, emergency services, and recording to the cloud, enabling your business to reduce premises infrastructure and easily provision and scale services. Coming to UCM in H2 CY2026.
Cloud Administration with Control Hub
Cisco streamlines the management of Cisco Calling with Control Hub and Cloud-Connected UC. Administrators gain a comprehensive view of their UCM and Webex Calling Hybrid deployments through Control Hub, including provisioning, feature management, reporting, analytics, and troubleshooting. Available Now.
By combining the stability of UCM with the speed and intelligence of the cloud, Webex Calling Hybrid gives organizations a future-ready path that strengthens reliability, reduces complexity, and delivers meaningful productivity gains. As new innovations continue to land, businesses can modernize confidently, knowing the platform will evolve with their needs while protecting their existing investments.
Learn more about Webex Calling Hybrid in this Webinar replay:
Future-proof Calling with Cisco
Webex Calling Hybrid represents a strategic evolution for organizations that depend on Cisco UCM as the foundation of their communications. By integrating cloud innovation with proven on-premises reliability, enterprises gain a modernized calling experience while maintaining the operational control, security, and compliance their environments require. The expanding Hybrid portfolio, including AI capabilities, cloud PSTN, enterprise mobility, enhanced queueing, and centralized cloud administration, ensures that UCM customers can adopt new capabilities seamlessly and on their own timeline.
Contact us to learn more about how Webex Calling Hybrid can support your organization’s modernization strategy.
Learn more
About The Author
