Farallon Communications Inc. announced a new line of low-cost Ethernet switches and network interface cards (NIC) for small office/home office (SOHO) sites as well as medium-sized business networks.
The NetLine product line includes five- and eight-port 10/100M bit/sec switches priced under $120 and network adapters for under $40.
The NetLine family of products is ideal for creating small to medium-sized networks in a home office or small business because they are low in price and require little configuration, says Ken Haase, marketing director for Farallon.
Inexpensive network connectivity and broadband Internet access have allowed more small businesses to get online and engage in e-commerce. According to International Data Corp., a Framingham, Mass.-based research firm, 52% of small businesses in the U.S. were accessing the Internet last year; IDC expects that number to surpass 70% by 2003. IDC also predicts that the number of small businesses selling goods on the Internet will jump from 850,000 in 1999 to 2.9 million in 2003.
Farallon's PN8050 five-port 10/100 switch costs $85, and the eight-port PN8080 costs $119. For PC connectivity, the PN990-TX 10/100 PCI card is priced at $19. Also for $19, the PN583-TP ISA NIC can be used to bring older ISA-based PCs onto a small network. For newer USB-based PCs and other network devices, the PN796 USB network adapter is available for $37.99.