Cisco 1751 Modular Access Router Turns Small/Medium Sized Businesses and Small Branch Offices Into Successful E-Businesses.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2001

SMBs and SBOs Deploy Internet-Based Applications

to Gain Competitive Advantage

Cisco Systems today announced the Cisco 1751 Modular Access Router, the highest performing solution in the Cisco 1700 series, with support for digital voice and virtual LAN (VLAN). The Cisco 1751 router enables small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and small branch offices (SBOs) to quickly and cost-effectively reap the benefits of Internet business applications. The Cisco 1751 router is designed and priced to enable SMBs and SBOs to reduce expenses and streamline operations by incorporating the Internet and e-business applications into daily business functions.

SMBs and SBOs that deploy Internet-based applications to streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction and enhance employee productivity, are poised to outpace their less Internet-savvy competitors. IDC, in Framingham, Mass., estimates average annual revenues for small businesses that utilize the Internet is US $2.1 million compared to $1.7 million for small businesses in general -- a 19 percent improvement. The market research firm also noted that small businesses generating revenue from the Internet are growing their sales faster than their non-connected counterparts.

"Our research shows that Internet use by small and medium businesses continues to increase and become a strategic part of their business. In addition, a record number of companies expect to incorporate the Internet into their daily lives, and those companies that successfully accomplish this will lead in their industries," said Raymond Boggs, vice president, small business/home office research at IDC. "As the Internet becomes central to the business, it is important to have an access solution with a wide array of features and flexibility to change and grow as business needs evolve. Firms may not yet know exactly what Internet technologies they want, but they are certainly hungry for all of the benefits that e-business offers."

Successful e-business implementations require an access solution that supports e-business enabling services including multiservice capability to deploy new voice/data integrated applications, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to provide a high level of security, and business-class digital subscriber line (DSL) for cost-effective, high-speed access.

"Our retail customers want to take advantage of the new business opportunities being enabled by the Internet -- whether consumer-facing support systems, point of sale, or inventory management -- to help them improve business performance and increase profitability," said Bob Covington, chief technology officer of MerchantWired, a provider of managed network and integrated technology solutions for the retail industry. "None of that would be possible without a sophisticated access solution in place. We use the 1700 Series Modular Access Routers with our customers because the products offer full functionality, and robust security features such as firewall and VPN, and allow us to deliver the solutions our customers want," he added.

New Cisco 1751 Router Builds on Success of 1700 Series

Extended Functionality -- The new Cisco 1751 multiservice-ready router extends the functionality of the Cisco 1700 series by delivering digital voice and IEEE 802.1Q VLAN functionality. The Cisco 1751 router contains ample default memory to enable advanced features such as multiservice voice/data integration, VPN, and DSL without the need to purchase additional memory. This reduces overall solution costs while enabling companies to take advantage of the latest e-business applications.

Increased Customization -- Equipped with two WAN/voice interface card (WIC/VIC) slots and one VIC slot, the modular design of the Cisco 1751 router provides increased customization to quickly react to changing market conditions and evolving business requirements. WICs and VICs are shared with the Cisco 2600 and 3600 access routers giving customers flexibility and investment protection as their business grows. By supporting the core technologies for e-business, the Cisco 1751 router provides SMB and SBO customers a flexible, integrated access solution for successful e-business implementations through multiservice voice/data/fax integration, VPN and security and broadband access.

"To merely be connected to the Internet is no longer a competitive advantage," said Joe Ammirato, director of marketing for Cisco Systems Mid-Market Access Business Unit. "Companies that leverage the Internet by implementing e-business applications to streamline operations and reduce costs will lead in their industries. Successfully incorporating e-business applications into daily business processes requires an access solution that is flexible enough to grow with evolving business needs; provides security to protect data; and delivers industry proven reliability to ensure the system is available when needed. The Cisco 1700 Series is the right access solution for SMBS and SBOs to gain competitive advantage by deploying e-business applications."

Multiservice Capabilities

The Cisco 1751 router is the ideal migration path to a multiservice network. It supports both analog and digital voice communications, providing an ideal migration path to a multiservice network. Customers can gradually shift voice traffic from traditional circuit-switched networks to a single infrastructure carrying data, voice and video over packet networks. This can be done without replacing any legacy PBX and key communication system equipment. By including support for digital voice, the Cisco 1751 router delivers connectivity support for many of the world's traditional circuit-switched PBXs and PSTNs. As a result multinational enterprises can implement integrated applications immediately.

VLAN Support

The Cisco 1751 multiservice-ready router router adds VLAN support to the Cisco 1700 Series. For network managers the benefits of VLANs are:

          --  Cost reduction of adds, moves and changes
          --  Improved network management
          --  Efficient bandwidth usage
          --  Added Flexibility
          --  Increased Performance and Security

For example, through VLANs, network managers can combine users in departmental function regardless of their physical location or interface type. Using VLAN enabled switches and routers diminish the need for expensive, time-consuming recabling to extend network connectivity in LAN environments.

Security and VPN

The Cisco 1751 router provides, integrated VPN, firewall, and intrusion detection system (IDS) capabilities. By supporting industry standards such as Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), data encryption standard (DES) and 3DES; Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP); the Cisco 1751 router delivers robust VPN solutions to ensure data privacy, integrity, and authenticity. Using an optional hardware encryption module the Cisco 1751 router can support up to 100 simultaneous VPN tunnels at T1/E1 speeds.

ADSL and Dual Ethernet Support

Cisco also offers an ADSL WIC (WIC-1ADSL) on the Cisco 1751 router delivering business-class DSL to SMB and SBO sites. Business-class DSL provides quality of service, business-class security, reliability and business-quality voice, making DSL an affordable option for Internet access.

In addition, Cisco is now shipping a 10BaseT Ethernet WIC (WIC-1ENET). The Cisco 1751 router deployed with the Ethernet WIC provides dual Ethernet capability enabling connection to the Internet using a broadband modem. Dual Ethernet capability also enables the creation of demilitarized zone (DMZ) LANs facilitating physical LAN segmentation to allow public Web server access while securing corporate data.

Pricing and Availability

The Cisco 1751 and Cisco 1751-V multiservice-ready routers will begin shipping on May 21, with a U.S. list price of $1,495 and $2,495 respectively. The ADSL WIC (WIC-1ADSL) and The Ethernet WIC (WIC-1ENET) are available now. For more information visit www.cisco.com/go/1700.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

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