Ascendent Systems has unveiled a version of its PowerConnect suite, which is designed to extend telephone features to any phone an employee has access to while working offsite. Version 4.1 adds presence applications that let users display their availability and also see whether colleagues are logged on and available to communicate via phone, e-mail or video. Additional features include four-digit dialing, enhanced Session Initiation Protocol support, and upgraded password management and profile administration tools. Enterprise pricing for PowerConnect 4.1 starts at $40,000.

Sales of small office/home-office wireless LAN equipment grew only 2% in the third quarter of 2005 - much less than the 10-plus percentage increases posted in the third quarter of 2004 and the third quarter of 2003, according to the Dell'Oro Group. The SOHO WLAN market is seeing increased competition from DSL customer premises equipment with integrated WLAN features, the firm says. The group also notes that, although many SOHO customers are hesitant to upgrade their 802.11g equipment, more will upgrade once standard 802.11n products are available, to take advantage of the technology's enhanced speed and coverage. Linksys, Netgear, D-Link and Buffalo Technologies are the top four companies in the SOHO WLAN arena, Dell'Oro says.

Compuware has unveiled a new version of its Vantage application-management suite, which is aimed at helping applications perform better. Vantage 9.8 supports agentless monitoring, which lets IT staff keep tabs on the performance that remote workers and telecommuters are experiencing, with no preinstalled agents required. The new monitoring capabilities are based on technology Compuware gained by acquiring Adlex earlier this year. Compuware also added tools for better diagnosing problems caused by Java. Pricing for Vantage 9.8 starts at $30,000.