Hitachi and Transoft welcomed to fold

HP has signed a joint technology and OEM agreement with Hitachi at the same time as it acquired Transoft Networks to help improve its storage area network (SAN) product range.

Under the terms of the agreement, HP will OEM Hitachi's high-end array products alongside its own fibre channel technology. It will also OEM several storage management applications.

Hitachi Data Systems also becomes an authorised Var for the MC256 disk array, provided the division passes HP's gold certification qualification.

Hitachi and HP will continue to collaborate on future technologies in storage, SAN and storage management products.

Masaaki Hayashi, senior corporate officer and group president of Hitachi's computer products group, said: 'This alliance leverages the complementary strengths of Hitachi and HP. Customers can now rest assured that their valuable information resources are continually available and protected.'

Meanwhile, HP acquired Transoft Networks, a developer of software that allows network administrators to manage storage across networks on various platforms. HP will integrate Transoft's applications throughout its storage products.

Commenting on the deal, Michael Klein, president of Transoft, said: 'Our agreement with HP enables rapid expansion in our business.' He added that the vendor's resources would enable Transoft to make increased investment in R&D.

Transoft's 60 employees will be integrated into HP's enterprise storage business unit when the acquisition is completed at the end of the month.