Cisco Systems will announce a new router family on Tuesday that includes products for small and medium businesses.

The Integrated Services Router line delivers converged voice and data applications and represents the next generation of the networking giant's Integrated Access family.

"This is an entirely new router portfolio -- seven new platforms and two new software services," Robert Checketts, a Cisco senior manager of product marketing, told internetnews.com.

The ISR embeds security and voice technology that customers would have previously had to add by purchasing additional cards or modules.

Three product series are a part of the launch: the 3080 series for enterprise branch offices; the 2800 series for mid-market firms; and the 1800 series for small businesses.

The 3080 will be available the first week of October and will cost between $9,500 and $13,500 depending on the model. The 2800 and 1800 products will be ready the last week of September and cost $1,995 to $6,495 and $1,395, respectively.

On the software side, ISRs feature a new user interface for network analysis and diagnostics that can be used instead of a command function and a new version of Cisco's CallManager application.

The move comes amidst increasing competition from Juniper and 3Com. In fact, 3Com introduced its own enterprise routers for regional offices of large companies and medium-sized businesses today.

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Additionally, 3Com delivered new DSL routers, expanding its existing router line for remote sites and small offices of larger organizations.

In separate Cisco news, the company paid $55 million for privately held Dynamicsoft, a developer of Session Initiation Protocol (define) technology that allows telecom service providers to deliver IP voice, data and multimedia services.

When the deal closes, Dynamicsoft's 104 workers will report to Don Proctor, vice president and general manager of Cisco's voice technology group.