Technology giant Hewlett-Packard, estimating that nearly $9 billion in Cisco
networking equipment is approaching end of life or service in 2011, announced
the HP Networking “A Catalyst for Change” Cisco trade-in promotion for
qualifying U.S.
customers. The program enables clients to upgrade from existing Cisco network
gear to open standards-based HP solutions.
To help facilitate a smooth transition from the equipment, HP Networking
solutions offer interoperability with Cisco and other networking equipment. HP
also provides network planning and migration services, as well as fast-track
ExpertONE certification training. A September report from IT research firm IDC
found open standards-based HP solutions deliver up to 66 percent lower total
cost of ownership when compared with proprietary platforms.
The company noted the trade-in promotion is the first HP Networking program to
deliver upfront savings with an additional 20 percent off the list price on HP
A-Series and E-Series switches. The order must be accompanied with a trade-in
of eligible Cisco Catalyst 2960/S Series, 3560/E Series/X Series, 3750/E
Series/X Series, 4500 E Series, 4900 Series or 6500 Series, as well as Cisco
Nexus 5000 Series or 7000 Series switches, according to a company release.
“Under the single-vendor stronghold of the past, enterprise networks have
gotten too complex, difficult to manage and expensive,” said John Kissane, vice
president of Americas Sales for HP Networking. “HP Networking gives
organizations a choice that delivers unprecedented flexibility, performance and
agility. This program further exemplifies our unrelenting drive to deliver
value and enable our clients to be more competitive.”
A recent Gartner Research report stressed the client benefits of adopting a
dual or multivendor network in the enterprise. “Debunking the Myth of a Single
Vendor Network,” by Gartner analyst Mark Fabbi, suggested that companies can
decrease network complexity, ease network management and lower five-year total
cost of ownership when an additional network equipment vendor is brought into
the environment.
The report also recommended that network architects and CIOs consider
alternative network vendors to ensure that they deliver a functional network
solution at an appropriate cost point. The report pointed out network
operations teams should invest in multivendor-capable tools to help enable the
organization to deal with a second vendor in their infrastructure, and to
improve the operational capabilities with their incumbent solution.
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Hewlett-Packard 
