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Cisco Systems, as long-expected, has finally rolled out some major small business product enhancements. At the same time, Cisco is said to be developing a next-generation channel partner strategy that blankets the small business and commercial markets. Here's the official news plus some speculation from our blog team.
Dave Courbanou
September 23, 2010
3 Min Read
Cisco Systems, as long-expected, has finally rolled out some major small business product enhancements. At the same time, Cisco is said to be developing a next-generation channel partner strategy that blankets the small business and commercial markets. Here’s the official news plus some speculation from our blog team.
On the official news front, Cisco is introducing “small business switches,” new IP phones, and new video monitoring solutions all tied up nicely with Cisco’s tech support. Cisco is also simplifying the Partner Develop Funds profitability program, and offering “four tracks instead of eight to help simplify the program for partners while helping create opportunities for partners to increase their profits. “
Here’s the quick breakdown on the hardware:
New Cisco 300 Series Managed Switches: designed to be energy efficient and robust, they come with a lifetime warranty, IPv6 support for the future.
Three new IP phones with new desktop administration tool: The Cisco SPA 300 Series are entry level phones with features that work with the Cisco Unified Communications 500 host IP system. Specifically, Tthe Cisco SPA 525G2 IP features wireless support, Bluetooth and USB charging. The new desktop manager is a simplified administrative tool to easily handle regular maintenance and operational tweaks.
Cisco Advanced Video Monitoring System (AVMS) software: easy to use (see a pattern here?), with advanced analytics for the small business security deployments and support for a maximum of 64 cameras.
Cisco can’t stress enough how ‘easy’ they’ve made all these devices for your small business to use, and they also make a good deal of noise about it all be very ‘affordable.’ Of course, we haven’t put the products to the test so you’ll have to determine if Cisco lives up to its claims.
Cisco prices the products as follows:
The Cisco 300 Series Managed Switches: start at $217
The Cisco SPA300 Series list prices range from $83 to $125
The Cisco SPA525G2 IP Phone lists at $430
Cisco Advanced Video Monitoring System software lists starting at $1,000
Cisco VC220 Dome IP Video Camera lists at $794
Cisco VC240 Bullet IP Video Camera lists at $921
If you want more granular detail about feature sets and portfolio expansions, check out Cisco’s monster of a press release.
The Bigger Picture
Cisco’s small business products are only part of the story. The bigger discussion involves Cisco’s global partner strategy for the SMB and commercial markets.
Cisco channel team members have been meeting in recent weeks to polish that strategy quite a bit. The VAR Guy expects some potential clues to emerge during the Tech Data Cisco Ignite conference (Sept. 28-30, San Diego). In addition to working with traditional resellers, it’s safe to expect Cisco to build new SMB and commercial pipelines for emerging types of partners.
Alas, that’s all The VAR Guy’s team can share for now. More details from Tech Data Cisco Ignite in a few days.
Additional reporting by The VAR Guy. Sign up for The VAR Guy’s Weekly Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center; and via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter and VARtweet.
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