Cisco Systems Named "Official Network Technology Partner"

Cisco's support critical to making convention open and accessible to wide audiences

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in computer networking, has been named the "Official Network Technology Partner" for the 2012 Republican National Convention.

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"Cisco has transformed how people connect, communicate and collaborate," said Committee on Arrangements Chief Executive Officer William Harris in making the announcement.  "Cisco's support is critical to our convention without walls efforts to make the convention open and accessible to people across the country and around the world."

Harris said Cisco has installed, configured and provided operational support for switching and routing the convention's core network infrastructure including WAN, VoIP, wireless access points and real time network monitoring.

"This is the first national political convention of the social media age, and Cisco's secure and reliable network is providing the infrastructure allowing convention participants to interactively share the event with others in the Times Forum and citizens around the country," Harris noted. 

"We have been proud to work with the Republican Convention to provide an unmatched user experience to Convention attendees as well as to the audience of this historical event," said Blair Christie, Cisco's Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs and Global Corporate Communications.

"More than ever before, we are operating in an environment where seamless, real-time communications are an essential part of success. The power of Cisco's networking technology offers the flexibility, security, and mobility necessary to meet the unique needs of events like the Republican National Convention."

Under the agreement, Cisco has installed, tested and configured the equipment used by the Committee on Arrangements and has provided both remote and on-site operational support. 

In addition, Cisco will assist in decommissioning the highly sophisticated gear once the convention is completed on August 30.

About the 2012 Republican National Convention
The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012.  Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests.  For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, become part of the virtual convention at www.ConventionWithoutWalls.com, visit our website www.GOPConvention2012.com and check out our official blog, Conventional Wisdom, at www.gopconvention2012.com/blog/.

Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for the 2012 Republican National Convention
www.GOPConvention2012.com - Phone: (813) 381-5588
Not Authorized By Any Candidate or Candidate's Committee

SOURCE 2012 Republican National Convention