Cisco Systems Inc.'s big SMB push seems to be paying off.
The company devoted much of 2007 to revamping its Integrated Services Routers and launched a Select certification for channel partners that cater to the SMB market.
Cisco's debut of its ISR 1861 particularly hit a sweet spot for smaller customers, an all-in-one fixed-configuration router with integrated support for eight VoIP phone users, said Inbar Lasser-Raab, director of network systems marketing at Cisco.
Throughout the ISR line, Cisco also expanded integrated security features such as network access control and intrusion prevention and added capabilities such as cost-based routing, she said.
"We touched every aspect and really boosted the capabilities of the line," Lasser-Raab said.
Cisco's Linksys division also continued its reign, wooing VARs on the strength of its business router line and channel ties.
Austin Smith, president of Digital Son, I.T. Services, a VAR in Lawrenceville, Ga., said Linksys is his brand of choice for small-business customers. "I prefer Linksys. I like to be flexible and their products [let me do that]," Smith said.
NetGear Inc., D-Link Systems Inc. and Adtran Inc. rounded out the category. Adtran was the only other vendor to increase share in 2007.
