SMBs D-Link To Inexpensive IP Telephony

D-Link has always been a company that has provided SMBs with a variety of networking and connectivity solutions. Recently, the company launched the xStack IP Telephony DVX-1000 IP PBXan IP-based device aimed at helping small businesses cut telephony-based costs.

Out of the box, the device can support up to 25 extensionsas long as they have Internet access, users can be anywhere in the world. Resellers have the option of offering additional extensions via license codes that can only be obtained through D-Link, which leaves room for potential post-sales revenue support.

The DVX-1000 can be used to combine voice and data onto a single LAN/WAN infrastructure while integrating applications such as call forwarding, call pickup, caller ID, conferencing and many other features. One thing to note, if resellers want to connect the device to a traditional PSTN with an IP-based network, they are going to need an IP analog trunk gateway to make the two coexist. (D-Link recently released the xStack IP Telephony DVG-3004S SIP Analog Trunk Gateway, which will accomplish this task.)

All administration configurations are done through the Web-configuration tool. From here, company policies and employee profiles are assigned. Built into the Web GUI is the option to schedule and invite employees to participate in conference calls. All notifications can be sent out to employees using this feature. When administering a conference call, users can import all pertinent information such as phone numbers, who the participants are, as well as access codes. CRN Test Center engineers were impressed with how quick and easy it was to master the phone-conferencing feature.

Many SMB customers are without an in-house phone-conferencing bridge because the infrastructure required to achieve this is typically far too expensive for the SMB customer. Another pricey option is a service company such as UCN or Infinite Conferencing, which charges every time the conference-call feature is used. Therefore, if a company frequently schedules conference calls, its bottom line will be affected; spending a onetime fee of $1,599 for D-Link's DVX-1000 IP is far more cost-effective.Similar to many of the paid services available on the market, the unit offers an autoattendant feature. Every component of the feature is completely customizable; a promotional message can be created to greet callers and then the system provides any pertinent information. Music can be imported, and the unit also provides an option for creating and scheduling different messages for different times of the day.

The Test Center's installation of the device was seamless and involved connecting it to a switch, which was connected to the Internet with IP phones attached in a VoIP environment.

As far as protection and security are concerned, the unit includes MD5 SIP authentication encryption encoder software and an integrated firewall. The firewall will provide intrusion detection and protection against denial-of-service attacks. These security features should be more than sufficient for SMB customers.

The DVX-1000 has a silver and blue exterior and measures 9.25 inches x 6.49 inches x 1.3 inches. Accompanied by two processors, the unit is compact and fanless and can fit into almost any environment.

D-Link has a two-tier channel program. The entry level, D-Link Business Solutions Partner, requires a D-Link Authorized VAR to sell at least $25,000 in qualifying D-Link business solutions SKUs, or offer a business model and product mix that supports elevation to this level. The top tier, the D-Link Diamond Business Solutions Partner, ups the yearly requirement to $75,000 in qualifying D-Link business solutions SKUs.D-Link offers another avenue into its Diamond Business Solutions Partner program with a grandfathering approach. VARs that are currently enrolled as a silver, gold or platinum partner in a competing vendor's program can be directly transferred to D-Link.

Business Solution partners are eligible for 5 percent front-end discounts, 5 percent back-end discounts through authorized tier-one distributors, access to tech support, authorization to sell D-Link warranties, maintenance and expedited replacement packages, access to online product training, and other marketing-related services.

Diamond Business Solution partners garner additional benefits in the form of 10 percent front-end discounts, dedicated field and inside sales representatives, and priority access to 24-hour tech support.

Partners can expect overall margins ranging from 15 percent to 20 percent, depending on products offered and related installation and support services. Those elements help build profits for VARs in what is typically a commodity-based market.

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