Vertical Networks is adding four integrated access devices to its InstantOffice product line that the company claims can perform the functions of a branch office’s PBX, voice mail system, automated attendant, hub, router and remote access server. The new devices are based on two different chassis, one for offices with up to 36 people, the InstantOffice 3000, and one for offices with up to 84 people, the InstantOffice 5000. Both can be fitted with extra processing power to handle additional applications. These models, the 3500 and 5500, support a Check Point Software firewall and Xios call accounting program for tracking use of wide-area links. The devices have analog ports for plugging in phones and 10/100Mbit/sec Ethernet ports for connecting to the office LAN. On the WAN side, the boxes can be fitted with cards that support T-1, primary rate interface ISDN, 56K bit/sec digital data service, frame relay or analog phone lines. So, for example, an InstantOffice could be connected to a corporate frame relay network and make it possible to dial voice calls from office to office using packet voice over the frame relay links. Employees can call office-to-office via voice over IP that is wrapped in frame relay frames, saving on the cost of office-to-office calls on the public phone network. Each box is fitted with two regular phone lines for calls that must travel over the public phone network. The devices range in price from $5,600 to $17,180. Vertical is also reselling a line of digital phones to go with InstantOffice. Vertical Networks, of Sunnyvale, Claif., can be found at http://www.verticalnetworks.com.
Prices listed are in US currency.