Daily Trust - the online edition

In keeping with its drive to support the growth and expansion of small to medium businesses across the world, Cisco has launched the Smart Business Communications System in Lagos as one of its launch destinations across the Middle East and Africa region. The Cisco Smart Business Communications System,, acording to the company, brings together voice, data, video, security and wireless mobility in a single and affordable platform.

The solution,the company, said is based on Cisco Unified Communications, a comprehensive communication system that combines the telephone system with business and data applications that increase efficiency across the enterprise and its branches by increasing collaboration and reducing cost.

The Cisco Smart Business Communications System has been designed bearing similar features with the Unified Communications only for a smaller establishment. The solution suits the unique needs of the small to medium business and can support up to 16 phones and in the event of expansion, can be scaled up to support 48 phones.

"Whether an SMB is looking to optimize business operations, improve customer service, increase profitability, grow its business, or make voice and data network more secure and reliable, the Cisco Smart Business Communications System can help", said Vincent Entonu, Territory Market Manager, English West Africa.

"The launch and in eventuality the availability of this solution is a novelty that we hope all SMBs will take full advantage of. What we are most excited about is the fact that it is really affordable and the return on investment is something any business minded entrepreneur should take seriously."

The Lagos launch was heavily attended by Cisco partners and resellers who were treated to a workshop and a live demonstration on the compatibility of the solution with other business applications and the relevance to SMBs in Nigeria. The solution will also be launched and made available in other countries within the Middle East and Africa region over the next few weeks.

"Like our Extreme Business Makeover Contest, which was developed to provide IT support to the tune of $40,000 to one lucky SMB, Cisco has shown its sensitivity to the needs of small and medium businesses in Nigeria", said Maduka Emelife, Managing Director Cisco Nigeria and Ghana.