HP takes on Cisco

HP intends to compete with Cisco on a larger scale with regards to its networking portfolio. This, says the company, will be bolstered by the recent acquisition of 3Com, a large computer network and infrastructure manufacturer, which will allow it to move forward with rolling out more competitive enterprise network offerings. 

At the company’s Tech@Work conference Jay Mellman, HP networking marketing director, revealed that HP recently deployed its first Cisco free data centre; meaning that no Cisco products were used in its design – something which Mellman added is generally unheard of. 

According to Mellman the acquisition of 3Com and the emergence of a Cisco free data centre is the company’s “commitment to running a data centre essentially on HP networking”.

HP is aware that Cisco has, until now, enjoyed a relatively open market with regards to networking devices such as routing and unified communications. Mellman stressed that although HP has some way to go before it can truly compete with Cisco it will be “steadily releasing products over the next twelve months which will take on” the networking giant. 

Mellman also added that HP will strive to undercut Cisco in the networking environment, adding that the company is currently “taking high margins” on products and that HP will target this. 

The 3Com acquisition will play a pivotal role by adding to the breadth of networking products and services that HP is now able to offer consumers. There are currently no plans to conclude the production of any existing 3Com products. 

Mellman added that plans behind the possible retrenchment of 3Com staff cannot yet be confirmed or denied. 

Currently Cisco is the clear market leader in enterprise networking globally.

Overall Mellman stressed that HP “strives to be number one or two in any business that it is in”, adding that enterprise networking is no exception.