Intel Corp has entered the small business networking market with the launch of a new range of InBusiness hubs and switches, including an internet connection router. The products are basically those that Intel acquired when it bought Dayna Communications Inc in September last year (CI No 3,254). The move expands Intel’s drive to broaden its range of networking products as well as pitting it against rival networking interface card vendor 3Com Corp and its OfficeConnect line. Last year saw a battle for market share in the Fast Ethernet card sector, which drove down prices, although at the InBusiness launch on Tuesday, Intel held back from any suggestion of a new price war. The range includes three 10Mbps Ethernet hubs, three 100Mbps Fast Ethernet hubs, two Ethernet switches and the Internet Station, effectively a small router but, says Intel, with enough software to hide complexity from its less than technically competent target market users. The station can connect as many as three users to the internet over a single analog or ISDN phone line and internet service provider account. Users can configure and manage the device through a web browser interface. It will carry a list price of $500. Intel says it will sell the equipment both through reseller and retail distribution channels and that all products are shipping now.
