Cisco Bundles Small Business IP Tools

Linksys One communications platform supports mix of voice, data,
applications and Internet access.

Cisco's Linksys division announced Monday a hosted IP communications
platform for small businesses that offers voice, video, data
networking, business applications, and high speed Internet access
through a single connection from a service provider.

Called Linksys One, the initiative includes an IP Phone, an integrated
switch and router, and a voice gateway, Linksys officials said.

The IP phone is priced at $229; the router, $1195; and the gateway, $279.

Product Specs
Martin De Beer, vice president and general manager for Linksys Small
Business Systems Business Unit, said Linksys One is a plug-and play
system where customers can use one converged services infrastructure
for telephony, data networking, and business applications.

Customers can arrange for the service through a service provider.

"Linksys One provides support and technology for all the needs of a
small business--IP phones, PCs, faxes, as well as a security
concerns," De Beer said.

The Linksys PHM12000 Color Manager IP Phone is SIP-based and includes
a speakerphone voice mail and an application developer toolkit.

The SVR3000 Services Router includes a 16-port LAN switch, which can
host e-mail services, a firewall, and a virtual private network. It
also provides power to all the attached devices, including phones
using Power over Ethernet.

A VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway integrates with traditional public
telephone system technologies to connect analog phones and fax
machines into the Linksys One network.

All-in-One Approach
With the launch, Cisco is attempting to offer an integrated, low-cost
IP communications system, says Michael Howard, a principal analyst
with Infonetics Research.

"This [product launch] seems to be a convenient, all-in-one package
for small business," said Howard, listing the voice, router, and
security features of the offering.

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