I think it needs mentioning, on the Cisco UC500 series appliance, you cannot seperate the wireless access point, network switch or firewall from the rest of the appliance. These are not seperate pieces of hardware that connect together but instead is one hardware device with different software licenses allowing you to use components that you need.

So if you are thinking you can get a UC500 for your phone system and use the wireless access point separately at another location, forget it, it’s all bundled together in one unit!

There are a lot of options available to small business as far as a VoIP phone system is concerned. A list of these options is the content for another blog, Cisco is working on penetrating this market with its Unified Communications for Small Business strategy.

Cisco’s UC500 series for small business is an all-in-one solution. This modular system offers a phone system, switch, wireless access point and firewall in an easy to use and manage package. The feature set as it related to VoIP includes:

• Eight IP phone station support
• Four trunks
• Optional T1/E1 voice interface (PRI and CAS)
• Integrated voicemail
• Automated attendant
• Basic call center capability
• Music on hold
• Optional wireless access
• System management

This system can be expanded as the business grows to 32 or 48 IP phones, additional IP ports can be added via Cisco Catalyst Express 520. Here are the specifications of the system:

 

Modular Support

WLAN Specifications

Voice Configuration Options

The Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series for Small Business is now available for order. If you need help with ordering or doing an initial assessment, contact a service provider like PC.Solutions.Net at http://www.pcsn.net.

To top it all off, Cisco SMARTnet can be added for enhanced support and technical assistance.

We know Cisco is well entrenched in the enterprise, and now it is going full steam towards SMB space.

It will be interesting to see how the Fonality’s and Talkswitch’s of the world fair against Cisco who wants to compete and is showing that it’s ready by introducing very competitively priced products like the  Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series. We know if Cisco is ready to take over the SMB market, it has plenty of resources to do so and has the financial strength to stay the course as competitors are pushed out. Here are some recently released Cisco products for SMB market:

• Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series adds 32- and 48-user systems. The initial release of the Unified Communications 500 Series addressed the unified communications needs of small businesses with eight to16 users. These two new platforms allow small businesses to support up to 48 phones per location.
• Cisco SMARTnet Service for SBCS is Cisco’s award-winning technical support service program, offering multilevel service options and access to an extensive range of technical resources. Sold by a Cisco channel partner, customers get direct, anytime access to Cisco engineers for configuration assistance, problem diagnosis and recommendations through 24-hour telephone or Web-based support. The offering also includes software assurance with application and Operating System software updates and upgrades.
• Cisco Catalyst® Express Ethernet Switches provide flexibility of configuration to meet different networking requirements. The four new switches offer 24 10/100 access ports with Power over Ethernet (PoE); 4 10/100 access ports with PoE and 20 access ports10/100; 24 ports of Gigabit Ethernet; or 24 10/100 access ports.
• Cisco Mobility Express: Cisco has added ease-of-deployment features for the Cisco 521 Wireless Express Access Point and Cisco 526 Wireless Express Mobility Controller. They include an easy-to-set-up guest access portal; automatic policy configuration for voice, data and guest access; simplified security set-up with preset low-, medium-, and high-security options; and integration with Cisco Configuration Assistant.

Since Cisco has already proven itself in the enterprise market and SMBs definitely recognize the brand name, I believe it’s just a matter of time, and if Cisco stays the course, it will take over the VoIP phone system market in this space.

Here’s the news regarding SMB from Cisco.