Cisco subsidiary, Linksys, is calling for channel recruits to help deliver its newly launched total communications brand and hosting package into the small business market.

Regional manager, Graeme Reardon, said the Linksys One offering was based on the concept of providing small business users with an all-in-one infrastructure package.

"Traditionally, SMBs have had multiple service providers for data, telephony or applications," he said.

"Linksys One is about providing an integrated and hosted total communications service for voice, data networking, applications, Internet access and video in the future."

The networking vendor is producing three new products specifically for the new package.

These include a new integrated 16-port service router, which would act as the platform for the solution, Reardon said. It would also release an IP-based Colour Manager phone for SMBs, as well as a PSTN gateway appliance. All three would be available in Australia early next year, he said.

The company has also signed IP Systems as its first local Linksys One hosted service provider and will undertake trials of the package in coming months. General release was slated for June next year.

Reardon said it was now on the hunt for additional VARs to come onboard.

The offering was particularly suited to those who had previously provided sole voice or data integration but were looking to make the transition into convergence, he said.

Those interested would be able to register via the new Linksys One website.

Resellers would be required to undergo certification training and an exam in order to sell the Linksys One package.

Training would be mostly Web-based, and available locally from January, he said.

"Our solution is a plug and play type of installation," he said.

"We would expect a partner could set up and install for 20 users in under an hour."