Hewlett-Packard Co yesterday joined the list of PC heavyweights to partner with Nortel Networks Inc to deliver unified networking products, this time based on Nortel’s hardware and software and HP’s NT servers. Under the announcement, HP will become a Nortel Global Solutions Partner (GSP), joining Compaq and Unisys, who signed up to the program earlier this year. Under the Global Solutions Partner Program, HP is required to resell a certain amount of Nortel’s products, although the company would not disclose how much it would need to sell to fulfill the agreement.
The HP/Nortel partnership is aimed at customers who require a set of products and services that will move them off separate voice and data networks to a single network infrastructure, a Nortel spokesperson said. Under the terms of the deal, HP will resell Nortel Network’s Passport router switch that can switch voice and data over one network and also its Callpilot software that runs on an NT server and connects voicemail to email. In return Nortel will offer its customers HP’s network service, support and financing services which include: network consulting, design, implementation, support and financing options. Neither company would provide details on how much revenue it expects to generate from the partnership. The news follows on the heels of a partnership, announced in March, under which Microsoft, Intel, HP and Nortel said they would work together to combine Nortel’s voice technology, branded Nortel Networks Connects, on HP/Wintel servers.
