Question And Answer: Linksys' New SMB Channel Program With Nigel Williams, Linksys

Linksys executive Nigel Williams discusses the company's new SMB channel program and its impact.

You might think of Linksys, a division of Cisco, as only a consumer networking vendor. Linksys is taking several steps to change that impression, however. At a recent press event, the vendor detailed its move into the SMB market segment (i.e. companies with 100 or fewer employees are Linksys' target market) with a new program called the Linksys Partner Connection (LPC). Nigel Williams, VP of worldwide channels at Linksys, shared the following specifics about the LPC program, which went into effect Aug. 1, 2007.

What's changed with Linksys that makes this the right time to reach the SMB market?
For nearly two decades, Linksys has delivered communications solutions to the consumer and small business market segments. Due to the dramatic growth in both market segments, Linksys reorganized in 2005 into business units that created greater expertise and specialization in meeting the needs of each market segment. Thus, the Linksys SMB unit was formed. In 2006, with a new business unit and product strategy in place, Linksys changed the SMB unit's name to the Connected Office Business Organization (COBO).