Cisco VoIP 'van' takes to the road
12-10-2007
by Ciara O'Brien

 

Cisco has been touring the country since 1 October in an attempt to educate small and medium sized firms on the benefits of voice over IP. The tour, which has been dubbed the Cisco Network on Wheels, is demonstrating its Smart Business Communications System along with other technologies that are suited to individual businesses. It has already taken in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast.

"It's all about making the technology relevant," said Jim Winchester, who is SMB territory manager for Cisco in Ireland. He explained that potential customers have been visiting the van -- a 25-foot mobile showcase -- to see how Cisco technologies would fit into their business.

The van is demonstrating unified communications solutions; wireless and mobility solutions; network foundation solutions; management applications; and embedded security solutions.

Since the tour kicked off, more than 70 representatives from 45 different organisations have come through the van. "There has been tremendous interest," said Winchester, adding that the partner community has also welcomed the tour, and has requested it to be brought back in the coming months.

Winchester told ENN that the new interest in VoIP among SMEs could be attributed to the operational efficiencies and cost savings produced by the technology.

"The initial inertia for organisations is the cost involved in investing," said Winchester. However, when customers take the plunge and roll out the systems they find they are seeing significant cost savings, as well as being able to become more efficient in certain areas, he explained.

Small and medium businesses are becoming a lucrative sector for larger firms. Cisco Ireland has seen its SME sector grow by 30 percent over the past year.

According to Cisco, its advanced technologies are experiencing a high rate of adoption by Irish SMEs with wireless, security and core network technologies seeing high double digit growth.