D-Link gives businesses more affordable managed networks with the latest generation ‘Smart Switch’

D-Link has launched its latest generation of smart switches, which will make a wide range of technology more accessible to businesses at a very compelling price point.

The network switch forms the heart of every business network, connecting networked devices to each other and the Internet. From phones and computers, to surveillance cameras and wireless access points, businesses will reach a point where the switch becomes essential to manage their network.

The new additions to D-Link’s Smart III range are easy to install, reducing complexity and bringing all of the benefits of a smart switch at a lower cost than comparable managed switches on the market today. The compelling price point also makes it an easy choice for businesses looking to replace or upgrade their network.

Kevin Wen, President,  D-Link Europe Ltd , commented: "Network connectivity is now simpler and more affordable than ever. These Smart switches not only manage connections, but they give companies the opportunity to use so many more different technologies. We have drawn upon our connectivity heritage and expertise in networking to develop the Smart III range.

"This new range of smart switches can replace an unmanaged switch with minimal features, giving small- to medium-sized businesses access to the features and security they need, without having to pay the high price of a managed switch," he added.

Employees want quick access to data and documents and installing a smart switch will vastly improve connectivity to critical day-to-day services, especially for those needing to access information from outside of the main office. Furthermore, features like automatic IP camera network segmentation, voice over IP prioritisation and reduced power consumption allow businesses to utilise the latest technologies, without fuss. With improved security and performance, as well as future-proof IPv6 support, the Smart III range allows companies to make the most of their investments to their network.

The new range includes an 8-port fast Ethernet switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE) support (DES-1210-08P), ideal for small businesses, 28-port non-PoE and PoE/PoE+ members (DES-1210-28 and DES-1210-28P), suited to fast-growing companies and high port density 52-port option (DES-1210-52) for larger organisations.

Historically, small- to medium-sized businesses upgrading their networks have had to make a quantum leap in terms of investment and move to a fully-managed switch if they required features such as VLANs and advanced network security. In order to establish a more gradual upgrade path, D-Link is providing a more flexible range of smart switches to meet these requirements.

Companies can also plan for how this technology will benefit them in the future, not just for the control of IP telephone and security networks. All of D-Link’s PoE and PoE+ switches are industry 802.3af and 802.3at standards compliant, which today means that users can provide power and network connection to any compatible devices with a single Ethernet network cable without the need for an additional power cable. In the future this could develop to enabling this single cable to charge the batteries of portable devices.

The Smart III range will contain 8, 10, 16, 20, 24, 28, 48 and 52 port Fast Ethernet and Gigabit switches with PoE and PoE+ options, which builds more flexibility from the traditional 16/24/48 switches. In addition, D-Link has changed the way that the hardware can be used, providing unified uplink and switch ports to give businesses more port counts for their money.