Cisco to launch 30 new products for SMB segment

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Cisco, global networking IT major, today announced that it will expand its operations to 16 more cities adding 600 new partners to cater to Small and Medium Business (SMB).

''The company will have 600 more partners, solely for SMB, spread across metros and tier-II cities to expand the business,'' company Senior Vice President (India and SAARC) Pramodh Menon told reporters here.

Cisco has 1,500 partners at present in 50-60 cities which deals with large as well as small business.

''Currently the company has 40-50 products in the market focusing on SMB. We plan to launch 30 new products in the next 12 months,'' Mr Menon added.

He said the company would follow a strategic roadmap to tap the rapidly growing IT and networking market in SMB space, which would include focusing on new customised products and solutions, and financing schemes such as easy lease programmes.

''The company's new SMB strategy worldwide involves helping customers create a sustainable and competitive advantage, improve operational efficiencies and boost their revenues and profitability,'' Menon said.

As per an Access Markets International (AMI) Partners 2006 study there are an estimated 7.6 million SMBs in India.

These SMBs are set to increase their IT spend by 24 per cent in the current fiscal to eight billion dollars, Mr Menon added.

Education, manufacturing, retail, automotive and IT-enabled services are key focus verticals for the company, said Mr Menon.

UNI