View all newsletters
Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you
  1. Technology
March 8, 2006

HP ProCurve targets Cisco partners

Hewlett-Packard Co's ProCurve networking division is looking for resellers to target enterprise accounts now that it has unveiled products for that space. Cisco Gold and Silver Partners who are miffed by Cisco's Shared Support scheme are obvious targets.

By CBR Staff Writer

We need and are actively recruiting resellers to engage with larger organizations now that our value proposition has increased, with edge switches offering wirespeed GbE power over Ethernet, said Jon Weatherall, ProCurve’s country manager for the UK and Ireland. We’re already strong in midsize accounts, because we’ve had a value proposition for that segment for longer, and they’re the ones who are ready to look beyond Cisco.

With the launch of the 3500 stackable and 5400 chassis switches, the Roseville, California-based networking division of HP believes it has grown the addressable market, and wants to find more high-end resellers prepared to invest in the training to become so-called Elite Partners.

That goes for Europe, Middle East and Africa where it has its largest market share in Ethernet switching by geography, with 16.8%, but also for North America, where it has around 9%. ProCurve wants to grow its EMEA share to reach 25% by the end of 2007, while in North America it is targeting the high teens.

Weatherhall said Cisco is overdistributed, so margins are lower and Cisco often manages who gets a deal. It’s going to become a buyer’s market, with ever less margin for the channel to invest. Aware that few Gold or Silver Partners are likely to drop Cisco altogether, however, he said they might use ProCurve an alternative in a competitive bid where a lot of resellers are offering Cisco.

A further factor in the market at the moment is the fact that Cisco wants Gold and Silver Partners to pay for so-called Shared Support, even on their inventory of spares, as it moves toward an April 2007 deadline by which time it wants to know the serial numbers of every piece of Cisco kit out in the market. Equipment whose number has not been sent to Cisco by then won’t be covered by support contracts, which some observers believe could lead to a major stock refresh requirement if spare parts from the grey market are held in resellers’ warehouses.

We’re looking to recruit high-capability resellers, and inevitably some of these are going to be Cisco partners, said Weatherall. The more Cisco makes these guys unhappy, the more opportunity it is for us.

Content from our partners
How businesses can safeguard themselves on the cyber frontline
How hackers’ tactics are evolving in an increasingly complex landscape
Green for go: Transforming trade in the UK

Websites in our network
Select and enter your corporate email address Tech Monitor's research, insight and analysis examines the frontiers of digital transformation to help tech leaders navigate the future. Our Changelog newsletter delivers our best work to your inbox every week.
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • CISO
  • CSO
  • CFO
  • CDO
  • CEO
  • Architect Founder
  • MD
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
THANK YOU