Xerox and Cisco announced they intend to form an alliance
to deliver cloud-based services and technology solutions that combine
network intelligence and print. The alliance plans to bring Xerox’s
managed print and cloud IT outsourcing services to customers over
Cisco’s intelligent network infrastructure. Both companies will arm
channel partners with solutions that help businesses extend their
existing IT investments, a joint release said.
Among the solutions offered through the alliance is Xerox MPS (Managed Print
Services) over Cisco Borderless Networks, which consolidates IT
and print management using the network’s embedded security, WAN
optimization and IOS (Internetwork Operating System) software. The
combined solution monitors print technology and is designed to reduce
operating costs, protect confidential data from any location and
improve employee productivity with advanced mobile and cloud printing
applications.
“This relationship puts Xerox and Cisco at the center of a simplified,
connected infrastructure – bringing together networking, printing and
cloud services,” said Ursula Burns, chairman and CEO of Xerox.
“Together we’re helping businesses transition to the cloud in ways that
best suit their operations, and add the services needed to enhance
security and productivity for employees.”
Other solutions include Xerox cloud ITO services built on Cisco UCS and
Vblock infrastructure to help customers accelerate the rollout of new
IT services, including include IAAS (infrastructure as a service),
cloud consulting services, and private cloud deployments, and a
combined Xerox Mobile Print Solution on Cisco virtual desktop clients
and Cisco Cius, which allows mobile workers to securely print business
documents from an email-enabled device – including Cisco virtual
desktops clients and Cisco Cius business tablets – to an enabled
printer using Cisco borderless networks and wireless LAN solutions.
Xerox and Cisco are currently working with channel partners so they can
resell, deliver and manage Xerox private and public cloud services on
Cisco’s Data Center and Borderless Network architectures. These
services, including IAAS, private cloud environments and MPS, have
been released for limited availability to Cisco channel partners. The
alliance intends to provide Cisco channel partners with new ways to
reduce costs and track print usage for customers, while Xerox channel
partners can utilize Cisco Smart Services (such as Cisco Smart Care) to
support customers’ network solutions. Xerox Mobile Print can be
accessed from Cisco virtual desktop clients and Cius when they are
generally available, the release said.
“Aligning Cisco and Xerox cloud offerings brings the power of
intelligent networking to printing to help our mutual customers drive
innovation across their businesses and become more agile and reduce
costs. This strategic alliance also creates a tremendous opportunity
for channel partners to grow revenue by building cloud practices,” said
John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco.
