Cisco has updated its SMB portfolio

Cisco has updated and expanded its products for the small and medium-sized business (SMB) market.

The eight new products include IP phones, network switches and a video monitoring service.

The company says that the new ranges will help smaller businesses or larger, cost-conscious departments to increase productivity, improve security and manage constrained budgets more easily.

The new IP phones start with the entry level SPA 300 at around 60, followed by the SPA 525G2, a wireless Bluetooth-enabled IP phone that can transfer calls to and from a mobile phone, for around 275.

Both phones can be used with the company's Unified Communications 500 IP telephony system or a hosted service.

For physical security, Cisco has introduced a surveillance system, the Advanced Video Monitoring System (AVMS), with a starting price of 640. AVMS provides monitoring, control and analytics for up to 64 cameras.

Network support for a company's IT infrastructure has been provided with the Cisco 300 Series Managed Switches. The company claimed that these offer an energy saving of up to 74 per cent over previous models.

Enhanced quality of service (QoS) within the managed features improve network performance and flexibility. Cisco also said that security is better and that ease of setup was a key attribute.

The C300 switches start at 140 and most models are available immediately.

Cisco has also provided a free download of Office Manager. This is a desktop administration tool to help a small-business, office administrator handle routine operational tasks for Cisco's IP telephony Smart Business Communications System.

The company has also simplified its small business product warranties, making the subscription-based Cisco Small Business Support Service available across the entire Small Business portfolio.