During the first 9-months of Fiscal Year 2013, Cisco's Collaboration sales (which include voice products) declined -$212 million (-6.64%) year-over-year (YOY) from the first 9-months of Fiscal Year 2012.
Below are Cisco's most recent quarterly collaboration sales (which are supported by more than 2,341 CCIE Voice professionals), view the spreadsheet without frames:
In what now appears to be a "harebrained CCIE Voice transition path" to stem its sagging sales, on May 28, 2013 Cisco quietly announced that starting February 14, 2014 its CCIE Voice track (which currently supports all of Cisco's $4 billion in collaboration sales) would be retired as confirmed by the below screenshot of the new Cisco CCIE Voice evolves to CCIE Collaboration web page:
Interestingly as shown below, the worldwide Cisco CCIE Voice track count totaled 2,341 as of March 2, 2012.
Updated 15-year total worldwide Cisco CCIE count, 10-year Cisco CCIE track count and 8-year multiple Cisco CCIE track count.
View the historical 12-year worldwide Cisco CCIE count by theater, region and country.
Almost immediately upon Cisco's May 28, 2013 announcement, John Welsh CCIE Voice #20125 petitioned Cisco to provide a reasonable transition path from CCIE Voice to CCIE Collaboration as shown below, gathering 1,196 petition supporters within hours.
"I am a Voice IE and I was shocked when I heard the news. This is totally inequitable. I wanted to become a CCIE because the certification has always been respected, regarded and heralded within the industry. I can't say I feel that way now. I put in the work. I earned my number. And now my number and my IE will be tarnished and invalidated by this marketing move (It seems they just wanted a new name for the cert). Where's the security? Where's the commitment to those who have loyally invested so much into Cisco?
"Many of you have made great points. The CCIE Voice hasn't been afforded the same type of flexibility, growth and longevity as other tracks. Typically, the technology progresses, the practical lab progresses and certified experts complete an updated written exam to earn the right to maintain a relevant CCIE. Why has this process been abandoned?
"We are all charged with the task of protecting the integrity of the CCIE. However, this decision clearly undermines that integrity and I believe it will definitely harm the CCIE brand. I thought I was making a wise investment when I poured myself, my time and my money into the CCIE. It looks like my investment will be nearly worthless by Feb 2014. I would not invest in another CCIE if I had to fear that it would be retired in this unfair way.
"I know Cisco prides itself on innovation. I know Cisco is willing to listen to good ideas. Our ideas and thoughts are grounded and relevant. We are a large part of the ecosystem that helps Cisco be successful — please treat us fairly."
The outrage expressed in the petition signed by members of Cisco's worldwide army of CCIE Voice professionals is staggering to say the least. And it most certainly now appears that Cisco has gone into major damage control mode, seeking to reverse the damage to its integrity from a harebrained CCIE Voice transition path.
"We are listening to the feedback from our valued CCIE community, and will be adjusting the CCIE Collaboration requirements. As a quick preview of the evolution of the CCIE Collaboration certification, a current holder of the CCIE Voice designation will now be able to migrate to a CCIE Collaboration credential by taking the CCIE Collaboration written exam only.
"We appreciate all of the great feedback and patience of the community while we update our webpages to reflect this change. We will be communicating further details about this modification as soon as possible."
