Cisco Systems Inc.’s recently-announced Business Communications Solution, which includes 12 new networking products and 10 upgrades to existing products, was developed in part because channel partners told the manufacturer customers wanted easy-to-use configuration tools.The Business Communications Solution includes Layer 2 switches, IP phones, call processing and unified messaging software aimed at small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs).
SMBs and their resellers told Cisco officials they wanted products that would be easy to deploy and manage, but have features that were traditionally available only in high-end products, said Steve Simmons, vice-president of commercial and SMB for Cisco Systems Canada Co.
For example, he said, the new voice products have more auto-configuration and self-configuration options.
“Some people approach the SMB market from the point of view of dumbing down enterprise products,” said Peter Alexander, Cisco’s vice-president of commercial marketing.
“We leave the intelligence and the value in the products” but make them easier to use with graphical user interfaces.
The product set includes the IP Communications Express Quick Configuration Tool, which is designed to let users of Cisco Integrated Services Routers configure and install both Cisco’s CallManager Express IP phone call processing software and its Unity Express voicemail and automated attendant software for 50 seats in less than one hour.
The Business Communications Solution includes version 3.3 of CallManager Express, which now includes embedded conferencing for 20 to 96 users, more call routing features and queuing capabilities.
It also includes version 2.2 of Unity Express, which now includes basic automatic call distribution.
Another new product is the Catalyst Express 50 Series of switches, designed for voice and data networks, with both Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet ports. The switches include Network Assistant 3.0, which has a graphical user interface.
Discovers equipment
Resellers or administrators can configure equipment, get reports on inventory, synchronize passwords and drag and drop Cisco IOS software upgrades on access points and switches.
Its “Smartports Advisor” includes common security and quality of service configurations for Cisco equipment, and lets Catalyst Express 500 series switches discover other equipment on the network.
It has network security settings, from the low default setting, which provides port security, to high security, which adds IEEE 802.1x authentication for media-level access control.
The Catalyst 500 switch also supports power over Ethernet, which lets companies run electrical power over the Ethernet cables rather than having to run separate 120-Volt electrical cables.
“It’s got more than you would see in a typical Layer 2 managed switch at this end of the market, particularly in terms of the security and the overall monitoring tools,” Alexander said.
Alan Freedman, research manager of infrastructure hardware at IDC Canada, said the Catalyst Express 500 does not necessarily have “leading-edge” technology, but some of the features were previously available only in high-end products that were too expensive for most small customers.
He said the Business Communic-ations Solution will help Cisco find new VARs, particularly those specializing in voice over IP.
“It’s a way to expand their market, expand their coverage and in a best-case scenario, they could displace some of the other networking vendors who have focused more on SMB in the past than Cisco has.”
The Business Communications Solution includes three new IP phones.
The 7985G includes a video call-camera, an LCD screen and handset.
The 7941G, for workers who process transactions, includes two programmable feature functions, four interactive soft keys, a built-in Ethernet switch and an LCD display, which includes data, date, calling party name and number and digits dialed.
The 7961G, which targets managers and administrative assistants, includes six programmable backlit buttons, duplex speakerphone and a built-in Ethernet switch.