TMCnews Featured Article

In a move to better offer small businesses and partners networking and collaboration solutions, Cisco (News - Alert) today announced a fleet of new products and services designed to improve productivity and help users boost their competition.

 

Cisco, the world’s largest maker of computer networking gear, has expanded the Cisco Small Business and Cisco Small Business Pro portfolios to include than 100 purpose-built products.

 

For example, the Cisco Small Business Pro series, which is designed so partners can build, install and manage systems that support small business' technology needs, now features the Cisco ESE 500 Series Switches, high-performance managed ethernet switches eliminate network downtime and prevent business disruptions. The solution is designed to boost small business productivity and customer responsiveness, the company said. The offering is available in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. Prices range from $659 to $3,299.

 

Another new entry is the Cisco SPA8800 IP Telephony Gateway, a solution that allows small businesses to connect their Open Source IP PBX (News - Alert) to existing analog phones and fax machines.

 

One addition to the Cisco Small Business Series includes the Cisco PVC300 IP Camera, an IP video surveillance solution that helps small companies protect their employees and business property via live video. The device, which is available for $794, can manage up to 16 cameras from one location and video be viewed anywhere, including on Internet-enabled mobile phones, Cisco said.

 

What’s more, Cisco enhanced its Cisco Smart Business Communications System with Release 1.5. The collaboration and communications system connects offices, employees and customers. The latest version features WebEx PhoneConnect, which allows small businesses to view meetings and join online conferences on Cisco IP phones; Cisco TimeCardView, which permits staff to clock in and out, track hours and download information to payroll applications from their IP phone and Third-party network monitoring and management applications. It also includes Single Number Reach, which routes calls to a

desk phone, mobile device, soft phone or other phone.

 

Cisco also launched a new Cisco Small Business Pro Service, which provides small businesses with three years of technical support and coverage for Cisco Small Business Pro solutions. It offers software updates, next business-day hardware replacement, and extended access to the company’s support center.

 

"Cisco recognizes that small businesses have a tremendous impact on communities around the world and on our global economy,” Ian Pennell, senior vice president, small business technology group for Cisco, said in a statement. “With our broad product portfolios, service and support, we're delivering on our commitment to give small businesses technology that can solve business problems and help them gain a competitive advantage to succeed in these challenging times.”

The news comes a year after Cisco launched a suite of new solution bundles for the Cisco Smart Business Communications System for the Asia Pacific market. As TMC (News - Alert) reported, the Smart Business Communications System enables SMBs to gain access to information anytime and anywhere. The system utilizes hardware products, integrated unified communications applications as well as system-management tools that support each other.

 

Cisco’s services, too, go far beyond the corporate setting. As TMC recently reported, the Toronto Blue Jays selected Cisco StadiumVision to give fans a technologically advanced sports viewing experience. The technology will offer live game video and customized content to video monitors in the stadium.