17 February 2011

ComNet expands ComWorx VL product line-cost-effective smaller eight-port PoE Ethernet Switch added. ComNet, Communication Networks of Danbury, Connecticut, a leading manufacturer of fiber optic transmission and networking equipment, has expanded its ComWorx VL line by introducing a cost-effective fiber optic, eight-port Ethernet switch for commercial security applications. The Comworx VL, CWGE2FE8MSPoE is the company’s cost-effective Managed Ethernet Switch that provides a high port density in a compact package and provides Power over Ethernet to peripheral devices such as IP cameras, video encoders, and access control equipment and is designed for use in benign environments. The all-new ComWorx VL CWGE2FE8MSPoE makes available eight 10/100TX ports and two 1000Mbps combination ports that utilize easily interchangeable ComNet small form factor pluggable (SFP) devices as optical interfaces. All eight ports support the IEE802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard. This cost-effective solution is designed to operate in environments typical for commercial security. All eight ports support IEEE 802.3af based PoE. Two ports are Gigabit-configurable for copper, or multimode or single mode optical fiber, selected by optional ComNet SFP modules. “The ComWorx™ CWGE2FE8MSPOE offers three of many very significant features,” states Andrew Acquarulo Jr., ComNet President and COO “The first is IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping V1/V2 for multicast filtering and IGMP Query V1/V2. Without IGMP, multicast traffic (streaming video) is transmitted to all ports within the entire network. This unnecessary traffic floods and ultimately slows the performance of the network. IGMP allows the data to be directed to a specific network address.” “The second major exclusive feature of the CWGE2FE8MSPOE is X-Ring. X-Ring technology provides a faster redundant recovery than Spanning Tree topology. The action is similar to STP or RSTP. X-Ring provides a redundant network path in the case of a failure on the network. In most cases networks that use ComNet managed Ethernet switches can, in the event of a failure, redirect the data paths allowing network restoration in less than 300 milliseconds. Lastly, ComNet is very cognizant as to the cost pressures today’s system integrator faces. That’s why the CWGE2FE8MSPOE is aggressively priced and part of ComWorx VL,” Acquarulo concluded. “With the introduction of the ComWorx VL CWGE2FE8MSPOE and our hardened version, the CNGE2FE8MSPOE switch, we are offering a complete solution that allows our customers to choose the right products for their application,” said Frank “Skip” Haight, ComNet VP of Marketing. “From the beginning ComNet has been known for providing some of the most durable products for use in the toughest environments imaginable. But there are applications where that durability in extreme environments might be excessive. The ComWorx VL line is a great cost-effective alternative,” Haight continued. “The ComWorx™ CWGE2FE8MSPOE offers three of many very significant features,” states Andrew Acquarulo Jr., ComNet President and COO “The first is IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping V1/V2 for multicast filtering and IGMP Query V1/V2. Without IGMP, multicast traffic (streaming video) is transmitted to all ports within the entire network. This unnecessary traffic floods and ultimately slows the performance of the network. IGMP allows the data to be directed to a specific network address.” “The second major exclusive feature of the CWGE2FE8MSPOE is X-Ring. X-Ring technology provides a faster redundant recovery than Spanning Tree topology. The action is similar to STP or RSTP. X-Ring provides a redundant network path in the case of a failure on the network. In most cases networks that use ComNet managed Ethernet switches can, in the event of a failure, redirect the data paths allowing network restoration in less than 300 milliseconds. Lastly, ComNet is very cognizant as to the cost pressures today’s system integrator faces. That’s why the CWGE2FE8MSPOE is aggressively priced and part of ComWorx VL,” Acquarulo concluded. “With the introduction of the ComWorx VL CWGE2FE8MSPOE and our hardened version, the CNGE2FE8MSPOE switch, we are offering a complete solution that allows our customers to choose the right products for their application,” said Frank “Skip” Haight, ComNet VP of Marketing. “From the beginning ComNet has been known for providing some of the most durable products for use in the toughest environments imaginable. But there are applications where that durability in extreme environments might be excessive. The ComWorx VL line is a great cost-effective alternative,” Haight continued. ComNet offers an extensive line of fiber optic video and data transmission equipment as well as a line of Ethernet Network equipment that is uniquely toughened to meet the needs of the Security and Intelligent Transportation System market. Full product line details are available at www.comnet.net.. Call direct 203-796-5300 or email sales@comnet.net for details.

iB Management Solutions partners with Progress DMS to help car dealerships tighten car security and improve customer service iB Management Solutions, the premier provider of eTag electronic key management systems for automotive dealerships and Progress DMS, the dealer management systems provider, today announced that they have formalised a partnership agreement. The announcement follows integration of iB’s eTag with Progress’ WorkShop Pro workshop control software.  WorkShop Pro is already used by a many dealership groups to record, control and monitor customer contact, allowing any user to see the current status of any given service vehicle, as well as check previous service records.   iB’s eTag system now manages and protects the keys of more than two million cars in the UK. Progress DMS’ integration with eTag gives immediate benefits to customers in that it enables dealership service staff to see which secure cabinet every service key is in and where the corresponding car is located around the parking bays or in the workshop itself.  Providing up-to-date information on the movement of all keys from any secure PC also enables front desk staff to easily inform the customer where to locate his or her car following a service. Paul Smith, managing director, iB Management Systems, said: “This partnership makes absolute sense from our point of view and benefits our customers. Both iB and Progress DMS have a shared vision of bringing more information to sales and servicing staff in dealers so they can offer customers a better experience in dealerships or when communicating with the dealership about their vehicle.” iB’s eTag has been implemented widely in many of the same dealership groups as Progress DMS including a significant portion of the UK Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Sytner Group and Porsche Retail Group dealership estates. Paul Smith of iB added: “iB is very aligned with Progress in terms of our goals of building IP-based systems designed to help dealerships serve customers better while increasing sales opportunities.” Logan Naidoo, sales director, Progress DMS, added: “There have been clear customer benefits from integrating eTag with WorkShop Pro. We will now look at its integration with other modules of our DMS and work together on some joint sales and marketing campaigns later this year.” About iB Management Solutions iB Management Solutions is an expert provider of end-to-end key management solutions and other systems for automotive dealerships.  iB Management Solutions’ eTag Key Management System offers networked key management solutions to 40 per cent of the Mercedes-Benz network and 30 per cent of the BMW network in the UK. Customers include Porsche Retail Group, Mercedes-Benz Retail, BMW Park Lane, Essex Auto Group and Sytner Group. iB is also an expert provider of CIAS (Cencon Automation IVR Solution) to security companies such as Sunwin Cash Processing. CIAS provides an automated telephone interactive voice response (IVR) service to security companies who need to distribute ATM lock codes to their crews in order to replenish and service ATMs.  For more information, visit www.ibmanagementsolutions.co.uk About Progress DMS Our solutions deliver real and measurable results; providing more functionality, cutting costs, increasing revenue and improving customer retention.  Dealers who are serious about improving their bottom line use Progress and our dealers include Porsche, Audi, BMW, VAG, Vauxhall, Mercedes-Benz Land Rover and many major groups such as Sytner Group, Lookers, Inchcape and H.R. Owen.  Our systems aren’t just for franchised dealers and increasingly smaller groups and independent dealers are realising the same benefits as our larger customers.  Over the past two years the excellence of our solutions have gathered industry recognition with nominations in both the AM and Motor Trader Awards. Progress DMS supplies systems and services to retail motor groups such as Inchcape, Sytner Group, Mon Motors, Alan Day, H.R. Owen and Lookers and our services are used across major franchises including Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini, Lexus, Maserati, Nissan, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Land Rover, Renault, Toyota, Saab, Porsche and Audi. Contact iB Management Solutions Paul Smith, Managing Director 0845 2255183 psmith@ibmanagementsolutions.co.uk www.ibmanagementsolutions.co.uk Contact Progress DMS Logan Naidoo, Sales Director 0845 2459305 Logan.Naidoo@ProgressDMS.co.uk www.progressdms.co.uk