Cisco SB solutions focus on biz essentials

BANGALORE, INDIA: Delivering on its commitment to support small businesses with innovative networking and collaboration solutions, Cisco announced new products designed specifically for small companies.

These new products meet the fundamental business needs of security, connectivity and productivity and add to the already broad portfolio of Cisco solutions for small businesses. The new products include:

* The Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker, an easy-to-use security appliance that provides protection for a business's network and critical data from viruses and malicious email attacks while mitigating spam.

* The Cisco NSS2000 and NSS3000 Network Storage Systems, affordable desktop, network-attached storage devices that provide protection for valuable data and allow employees to effortlessly share information.

* The Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS) Release 1.4, a complete collaboration and communications system that easily connects offices, employees and customers from anywhere at any time, now with the industry's first wireless desktop Internet Protocol (IP) phone with Bluetooth capabilities.

This news builds on the November 2008 announcement of Cisco's $100 million global strategic initiative to provide dedicated products, services and support for small businesses, including the formation of the Cisco Small Business technology group (SBTG).

The SBTG is focused on developing technologies within six priority areas that meet small businesses' core business needs and help to enable business growth, including the areas of security, connectivity, productivity, remote access, customer interaction and customer support.

Cisco CapitalSM offers a wide range of financing services designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses around the world. Zero percent financing on voice solutions, including the SBCS Release 1.4, is available to qualified businesses in the U.S. and Canada. EasyLease zero percent financing is also available for unified communications and network technologies in Europe.

All of the new products are available immediately worldwide to Cisco Certified Partners and available to small businesses via Cisco partners and resellers.