Cisco launches consumer channel program

Cisco has unveiled a new consumer-oriented channel program as part of efforts to drive product sales in the Australian consumer market.

The Cisco Consumer Channel Network (CCN) provides resellers with benefits and incentives around the Linksys by Cisco range and its connected home products. The portfolio include routers, network storage, wireless hardware, Internet cameras and management software.

Incentives on offer include product utilities, sales tools, tech support, marketing resources, training, promotions and a registered partner logo. To coincide with the program, the vendor has built a new reseller portal for its consumer channel. CCN was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

Linksys regional director, Graeme Reardon, was unavailable at time of press, but in a prepared statement said the Consumer Channel Network partner program was its first dedicated initiative around home networking products.

“We have found that resellers want a program that focuses on consumer products and provides training, sales and marketing tools as well as benefits to enhance their business for their home-based office clients, high-tech home customers and very small business owners with about five employees,” he stated.

The program is the latest step in Cisco’s plans to build a bigger footprint in the consumer end of town. In August, the vendor announced the integration of its Linksys and Cisco small business channel programs and hinted at a review of its consumer-oriented distribution line-up. The Linksys team has been reassigned to concentrate specifically on the consumer market.

The networking vendor also recently established a dedicated Small Business Technology Group to focus on growing its presence in the sub-100 market and released a range of Small Business and Small Business Pro products.

During the CES show this week, Cisco took the wrappers off several consumer products including the Linksys by Cisco Media Hub and Wireless Home Audio system. The vendor has also launched a Cisco Device Connections Program (Cisco DCP) to allow third-party manufacturers to use its Home Network Administration Protocol (HNAP) in variety of network-connected devices.