Converged Access launches integrated SMB system

Converged Access today launched a new access point device that it says will give small-to mid-sized businesses a low-cost means of guaranteeing application performance as they converge voice and data services over a carrier broadband network.

The Converged Access Point or CAP is intended to deliver quality of service (QOS), along with routing, security, voice over IP and wireless access capabilities in a single system that is application-aware, said Doug Antaya, vice president of marketing for Converged Access, previously known for its traffic management functionality.

"This product is based on an idea that came from MCI and SBC," he said. "They like QOS capabilities but wanted an integrated solution. They didn't want to deploy multiple boxes at customer site--an Internet switch, firewall, a QOS device, a gateway, etc."

Using CAP, service providers can enable their small to mid-sized business customers to make a smooth tradition to converged voice and data services, Antaya added, by using a broadband pipe such as DSL to offer both voice and data. The product's value proposition is based on replacing about $2000 worth of gear with a $975 single box that is easily deployed for lower total cost of ownership, he said.

Converged Access has built-in capabilities that allow customers to set up classes of service, each with its own priority, to assure QOS for voice services and for critical data services, he said. In addition, the box includes 802.11 b/g interfaces for Wi-Fi access.

CAP is built on Converged Access' traffic management capabilities and includes applications layer support, packet size control, TCP rate shaping, class-based queuing, and bandwidth borrowing. The system also includes session initiation protocol (SIP) gateway and SIP-aware firewall capabilities.

"One of the nice things about the product is that you can use it for rolling out a converged service offering," Antaya said. "There is a lot of interest also in a security offering with a business-class firewall. There are a lot of SMBs that don't have any firewalls today."

The new product is shipping today and is in lab trials with service providers.