Networking equipment maker Cisco and printer services provider Xerox have entered into an agreement to offer cloud computing and print products jointly to their customers.
Under the agreement, Xerox will offer its print and IT management services to Cisco’s Borderless Network effort and the two companies will collaborate on software to monitor cloud, mobile and print data applications.
Services, such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), will be offered via Xerox’s ACS unit.
Xerox’s Enterprise Business Group president Rick Dastin said the partnership is a great combination of services and network.
"Xerox and Cisco think networking and print managed services are [a great combination]. They’re like peanut butter and jelly," said Dastin. "And it tastes good too."
"The thing we bring here is integrating [both companies] together. Cisco owns most of the wiring closets and networking. That fact that we can come with integration, full transparency of networking including print, which [customers] couldn’t get before, particularly for SMB customers, fully automated, and now it’s offered through channel, is unique," Dastin said.
"This is a captive solution that the channel can sell. It is reseller ready and we are enabling them to be ready."
Xerox will also sell Cisco’s cloud computing technology to its clients. The two companies will also collaborate on mobile printing via Cisco’s virtual desktops and its Cius tablets.
Cisco said the deal will stop its customers from going elsewhere for services it could not offer.
Cisco vice-president Marie Hattar said, "Our clients used to look elsewhere for printing services and now they don’t have to."
The companies plan to launch the partnership in the third quarter of 2011.
