October 6, 2006 Wait, before your eyes glaze over because it looks like just another box destined for the IT department, it’s significant and a signpost to the future as it combines all of the components necessary for wireless and wired Data Access and VoIP networking, all in one box. 3Com announced the unified switch for small and medium businesses (SMBs) earlier this week and apart from converging wired and wireless networking functionality it also includes Power over Ethernet (PoE) to support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony. The 3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 is easy to deploy and manage solution and it’s cost-effective and designed for SMBs that want all of the elements of a business-class network, as well as a platform for delivering advanced communications solutions such as wireless and VoIP, in one box. No really, it is significant!!

Purpose-built for organisations with five to 250 users, the 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs enables organisations to manage all critical networking functions as one device because they are all integrated in a single unit. 3Com designed the switch to deliver upfront and ongoing cost savings when compared to competitive solutions that don't offer the same level of functionality in one box, or are not seamlessly integrated. The switch is ideal for SMBs that have limited resources dedicated to managing and upgrading their network.

The 3Com Unified Switch for SMBs is scheduled to be available globally from 3Com channel partners within 30 days.