Linksys Unveils a Complete Line of Easy, Affordable Hosted Communication Products for Small Businesses


IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 14 -- Linksys®, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., the recognized leading provider of voice, wireless and networking hardware for the consumer, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) and small business customer, today announced the initial line up of its new brand of complete hosted communication solutions for small businesses. This new solutions brand, named Linksys One, delivers business telephone service, data networking, security, applications, and the Internet through one high-speed connection from a hosted service provider.

The first Linksys One products to be offered will be the SVR3000 Services Router with 16-Port 10/100 Switch, PHM1200 Color Manager IP Phone, and VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway. These products include unique Linksys One plug and play technology that instantly detects and configures Linksys One devices. As part of a true "Services Platform" capable of enabling growth with new features and applications, Linksys One products are designed to automatically determine the optimal configuration and are functional the minute they are connected, eliminating the need for skilled IT professionals on staff, or on site. A unique network discovery process and automated configuration also means that new networks, additions to the system, and new technologies require only limited-touch deployment. A 16-employee system with Voice over IP (VoIP) can be installed in less than an hour, and costs less than comparable key system or PBX solutions available today.

"Linksys One gives small businesses a single system for voice, video and data services," said Marthin De Beer, vice president and general manager, Linksys Small Business Systems Business Unit. "This solution enables service providers and value added resellers to position themselves as the single source for their customers' complete communication needs, offering them increased margins and new revenue streams."

SVR3000 Services Router with 16-Port 10/100 LAN

The SVR3000 Services Router with an embedded 16-Port 10/100 LAN Switch is the heart of the Linksys One solution. This integrated switch and router enables plug-and-play installation and includes advanced features that allow a small business to protect its network and improve productivity.

o Converged Services: The SVR3000 Services Router provides access to a
single converged network for voice, applications and data. In
addition to enabling VoIP, the SVR3000 hosts an email server, email
services, web filtering, file server, print server, firewall, Virtual
Private Network (VPN) technology, personal Web server, and much more
in future releases. It also provides access to the data and voice
networks, and supplies power to all of the attached devices, including
phones, using Power over Ethernet (PoE). All of this, plus integrated
voicemail and auto attendant, makes for a low-cost solution that
eliminates multiple boxes, costly IT resources, and licensing fees.
o Optimized: Integrated quality of service (QoS) capability in the
Services Router automatically prioritizes all network traffic. Staff
can browse the Internet, access applications, send emails and talk to
customers on the phone with no impact on quality. The Services Router
also has integrated Virtual LAN (VLAN) capabilities, allowing users to
segment services across the network for greater administration
efficiencies, security-control mechanisms, and bandwidth-management.
o Highly Secure: The Services Router provides hardware encryption and
robust security measures to protect against attacks on the network.
An integrated firewall and VPN technology provide robust means of
protecting business communications that take place over the Internet.
o Manageable: Service Providers or Value Added Resellers (VARs) can
control management access so that the small business network is
managed, optimized and easily expanded as a single system. This
eliminates the need to manage individual products, and allows for a
single interface to configure all functions of the system.
Capabilities to manage other services, such as calling plans, calling
features, applications, network security, and bandwidth requirements
are built into the system and provisioned by the Service Provider
through the SVR3000.
o VPN Access: In the future, it will be possible to easily connect
offices via a secure "always on" Internet connection or allow mobile
or traveling workers to access the company's system using a secured
connection over the Internet

The SVR3000 delivers 16 ports of fast Ethernet LAN switching with full support for IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet on each. All Linksys One IP phones and voice gateways can be fully powered over these ports without a separate power adapter. Two 10/100 WAN ports provide access to the Internet, either directly or through a separate broadband router or bridge device. Cascaded expansion to other switches or application servers is supported through two 10/100/1000 BaseT ports, enabling the system to be easily and cost-effectively expanded as a business grows.

Features:
o Services platform
o 16 port Powered Ethernet 10/100 switch
o Firewall, NAT Router
o DHCP, DNS Proxy
o Optional VPN client to service node
o Priority Queuing
o SIP Proxy/Registrar
o Power over Ethernet (PoE)
o SIP Application Layer Gateway (ALG)

PHM12000 Color Manager IP Phone

Combining the money-saving advantages of VoIP with the familiar features of a small business telephone system, the PHM1200 Color Manager IP Phone brings together the same quality of voice service and reliability that business users have come to expect from traditional phone systems with the cost savings and convenience of combining voice and data traffic over a single Internet connection.

The PHM1200 Color IP Phones can be installed in minutes -- simply plug in the phone, enter the customer information, and the business is ready to make and receive calls. There is no central phone system to install and no special servers to set-up. Linksys One Service Providers help ensure delivery of business class voice quality -- unlike the 'best effort' audio clarity often provided with other Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions.

PHM1200 phones will easily integrate with current and potential future Linksys One systems, such as video systems to monitor surveillance areas from the phones. The Linksys One application toolkit also enables the development of custom IP phone Extensible Markup Language (XML) applications and Web services.

Features:
o SIP based
o Dual USB 1.2 (optional WLAN i/f)
o 16M Flash and 64M Ram
o 24 Feature/line buttons, 4 soft keys, 1 Selector button, 3 fixed
feature buttons
o Pixel-based color/backlit screen
o Application developer XML engine
o Full feature set (within phone)
o Speakerphone and local vmail
o Web customizable (HTTPS)

VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway

Many small businesses have traditional phone system equipment, like fax machines or analog phones, that need to be integrated into any new communication system. The VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway allows Linksys One installations to include this legacy equipment. The Voice Gateway also provides a local connection to the public telephone network for emergency services calls and redundancy in case of a power loss.

Operation of a VGA2000 requires the installation, configuration, and operation of a SVR3000 Linksys One Service Router at the same site. The gateway interacts with provisioning, management, and security software hosted on the SVR3000 through a 10/100 port.

Features:
o Local PSTN access, 911, and Fax
o 1 FXO/ 1 FXS
o E911 support

Enabling Future Hosted Applications

Linksys One will provide a unique application toolkit that enables Service Providers to deliver business applications and web services directly to the phones of their subscribers. These can be their own applications or be from a third party vendor, and can be as diverse as instant messaging, real time stock, currency or traffic information, or even environmental controls. The application toolkit is based on the widely-used and platform independent Extensible Markup Language (XML).

As new compatible applications and services become available, Service Providers simply enable customer access, and add a new charge to the bill. Linksys One phones instantly detect and "learn" about new applications through Linksys One technology, so that subscribers can start using them immediately.

Roadmap for Linksys One Products

A complete line of innovative and affordable Linksys One communication products will be offered as part of its integrated architecture. These may include additional IP phones, VoIP Wi-Fi phones, analog voice gateways, network attached storage devices, wireless access points, USB devices, video conferencing, and video surveillance systems. Product specifics and pricing will be announced at time of availability.

Availability and Pricing

Scheduled for beginning in December 2005, the SRV3000 Linksys One Services Router, PHM1200 Color Manager IP Phone and VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway will be available to Linksys One Authorized Resellers in the United States. Reseller participation in the Linksys Partner Connection Program is required. More information on reseller requirements can be found at www.linksysone.com. Hosted Service Providers including MCI, airBand, NeoNova, and IP Systems plan to be offering the line of Linksys One solutions in 2006.

Estimated street prices of the SVR3000, PHM1200, and VGA2000, in USD, are $1,195, $299 and $279 respectively.

About Linksys

Founded in 1988, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the recognized leader in Voice, Wireless and Ethernet networking hardware for consumer, SOHO and small business users. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award- winning products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices and applications. Linksys provides award-winning product support to its customers. For more information, visit www.linksys.com.

Source: Linksys

CONTACT: Media, Karen Sohl, +1-949-823-1578, ksohl@cisco.com, or Trevor Bratton, +1-949-823-1212, trevor.bratton@cisco.com, both of Linksys; or Investor Relations, Ken Bond of Cisco, +1-408-526-6001, kbond@cisco.com

Web site: www.linksys.com/

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