Amanda Giddins, distribution director, EMEA, Nortel says the expanded SMB portfolio brings the power of wireless LAN, security and converged voice and data to the SMB market.
“The portfolio will be available in August 2006 and consists of four new products that address unique requirements, challenges and budgets of smaller businesses. The new SMB portfolio also includes enhancements to Nortel’s BCM.”
Nortel’s new SMB portfolio of products and enhancements include the Business Ethernet Switch 100 Family which provides desktop connectivity and power for devices such as IP phones and wireless access points.
The Nortel Business Secure Router 222 for low-cost connectivity to the Internet or IP networks and enables greater employee flexibility for work locations and hours via secure connectivity from home or elsewhere.
Fore wireless applications Nortel is introducing Business Access Point 120 and for network management their Business Element Manager to streamline repetitive tasks and simplify network operations.
Nortel has also upgraded their Business Communication Manager to level 4.0 with software enhancements to the BCM 200 and BCM 400 to deliver enhanced simplicity and ease of management, as well as ad-hoc conferencing for up to 40 participants, expanded IP set support, enhanced security and voice-enabled WAN support.
Giddins concludes, “Smaller businesses want to partner with resellers who can provide end-to-end technical support and who clearly understand their business. Recognising this, in advance of the launch of the new SMB portfolio, Nortel introduced its Nortel SMB Accelerate Partner Programme in February 2006, which has been specifically designed around the needs of SMB resellers. For example, the programme provides new SMB specific sales training and on-demand marketing tools to assist its channel partners. The program is designed to accelerate the profitability of these partners and increase the adoption of Nortel technology in the SMB market throughout EMEA.”