Netstore directs email

Network access control (NAC) vendor Bradford Networks has denied its new OEM alliance with wireless LAN vendor Aruba Networks has caused a rift with UK reseller Khipu.

Education specialist Khipu has held an exclusive UK agreement for Bradford’s Campus Manager software since 2004, a product Bradford admits is the same as the NAC Director product Aruba began selling in August.
This means all of Aruba’s UK resellers now have access to the software, effectively making the exclusive deal redundant.
One channel source, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Bradford has strategically broken the agreement to improve its UK sales. It wants to move into the enterprise market and has realised the deal with Khipu is holding it back.
“Khipu has achieved good sales volumes in education, but it is not in a position to give Bradford the sales volumes it wants.”
However, Tim Evans, director of international sales at Bradford Networks, said: “We are very happy with Khipu and remain extremely close. The products are the same but we have not back-tracked on the agreement. Khipu still has exclusive rights to sell Campus Manager.”
Andrew Brimson, managing director of Khipu, added: “We have a good relationship with Bradford and are happy with the situation surrounding the agreement we have.”
Roger Hockaday, EMEA director of marketing at Aruba, said: “This move has opened up the market. It is an excellent product and there is big demand for it.”
Is NAC a solution looking for a problem?