Nortel has announced a new hardware and software portfolio to provide end-to-end converged communications systems for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Nortel emphasised that the systems were designed specifically for businesses in this category.

Nortel’s general manager for enterprise and SMB comms systems, Alex Pierson, said,“The right business communications system can completely change the playing field for a smaller company, but solutions must be tailored for smaller businesses, and be affordable and easy to implement and use.”

The package includes three hardware devices: a router, a switch and an access point. The Business Secure Router supports wide area network (WAN) connectivity from home or office. The Business Ethernet Switch 100 series offers Power over Ethernet to drive IP phones. The third hardware device in the package is the Business Access point 120.

The software to manage the system is an upgrade to version 4.0 of Nortel’s Business Communication Manager; and Business Element Manager, which provides a consistent and simple network management interface for the new hardware, said Nortel.

Nortel argued that its products may be more attractive than rival offerings for SMBs, which are often products designed for large enterprises, but with cut-down features and rebranded for smaller enterprises. Nortel said that such cut-down tools often require more expertise than SMBs normally have.

Nortel’s new SMB hardware and software is scheduled to be available in August this year.