Massey said the converged network and the many applications running across it were made possible because various government agencies and vendors were willing to work closely together, consolidating job functions in some areas.

In the next year, Clark County expects to expand its IP network through the use of up to 8,000 IP telephones for all county workers in the area, said Richard Grey, supervisor for network architecture for the county. A request for proposals for the phones has been issued, he said.

Cisco Systems Inc. and IBM are the major vendors on the network and related applications in the justice center, county officials said.