Alcatel adds to OmniSwitch range
Vendor talks up margin opportunities of 6800 series
The price per port for switching products is dropping and the channel can now make healthy margins without charging customers through the nose, according to IP switch vendor Alcatel.
Neal Tilley, networking infrastructure marketing manager at Alcatel, made the claim last week after launching the 6800 series of stackable 10G Ethernet switches, which are part of the vendor's OmniSwitch range.
"By extending the life cycle of the product through scalability, future-proofing and lifetime warranties, we are ensuring healthy returns for the channel," he said.
"The price of a gigabyte and 10GB is coming down to below £5,000 per port. It means channel partners can enter challenging business-product markets and target customers that are moving with the times."
Alcatel said the 6800 series is available through its standard distribution and business channels, and targets a number of vertical markets, including defence.
The vendor also said channel partners will benefit from extra revenue streams through 6800 series follow-up sales, including security features and quarantine engines.
However, Eddy Alejos, technical director at reseller Dynax, said the 6800 has few distinguishing features.
"It's a raft of new products very similar to other brands, using off-the-shelf chips to enable faster stacking and product development," he said.
"Stacks make a faster route to the customer. Alcatel products tend to sell to the channel at a good price, although margins depend on the reseller's level of accreditation."