Networking and Telecomms

Cisco set to acquire voice switch maker

Cisco Systems has continued its drive into the telecommunications equipment business, agreeing to acquire US company Summa Four, a maker of programmable voice switches voice mail, intelligent number call routing, voice-activated dialling, and IP telephony for $US116 million. Cisco intends to offer the voice devices to service providers, including those setting up voice-over-IP services.

Use of fibre channel for Intel servers

Intel server makers -- IBM and Siemens Nixdorf -- are anticipating customer migration to Fibre Channel storage and networking and have unveiled products that are scheduled to begin shipping in September. IBM, moving on its promise to bring mainframe qualities to its Netfinity server line, will roll out in September a family of RAID controllers, PCI adapters, and networking hubs, to be christened IBM Netfinity Fibre Channel products.

3Com strategy chases networking cash cow3Com is chasing a new cash cow with the recent launch of its "more connected" networks strategy, designed to capture the local small to medium enterprise (SME) and consumer networking markets. Company executives cite electronic commerce, 3Com's own V.90 modem push, small office connectivity, and the shift from routing to Layer 3 switching as market drivers behind its strategy.

In addition, the company claims converged voice, video and data transmissions are contributing to users' desire for a single vendor networking solution.

Cabletron rolls out SmartSwitch

Cabletron Systems has announced the SmartSwitch 2E253-49R, a stand-alone Ethernet workgroup switch. The company said the 2E253-49R offers 48 switched 10Base-T Ethernet ports, built-in redundant power supplies and optional high-speed backbone connectivity.