Cisco launches tailored SME networking bundle

Vendor hoping that Business Communication Solutions will gain marketshare

Cisco has upped the ante in the SME networking arena with a bundled offering it claimed will give small businesses the same communications capabilities as large enterprises.

The SME networking market has become increasingly fierce with vendors such as Avaya, 3Com, Extreme Networks and Hewlett-Packard ProCurve jousting for a slice of the lucrative SME sector.

Cisco is hoping to steal a march on rivals with its Cisco Business Communications Solutions (CBCS), a bundle launched last week that will cater for firms with less than 250 seats and includes the SME-class Cisco Catalyst Express switching range and new IP products.

John Donovan, managing director for the channel at Cisco, said: “With CBCS our SME channel partners will get a complete solution and we will offer a whole programme that can drive sales for partners.

“We have got good resources in the field and want to become the number one provider in the SME market.”

Donovan said the programme also includes a tailored support programme and additional marketing support specifically for the SME space.

Ian Kennedy, head of systems engineers for UK and Ireland at Cisco, said that with Cisco’s established channel dealings, it can offer a simplified solution with strong security capabilities. “We recognised that the SME market was under-serviced from the technology side, but we did not want to re-badge technology, we want to develop from the ground up,” he said.

Rupert Adair, senior product marketing manager at IDL, a voice application developer for Cisco’s Call Manager IP telephony, said that Cisco’s brand would be strong enough to transfer into the SME space.

“Cisco has a strong enterprise story and it should be able to extend this into the SME space.

“It will sell on applications, as everyone knows its infrastructure is reliable and resilient,” he said.