HP lowers switch prices

Vendor admits low-end ProCurve switches were overpriced

Hewlett Packard (HP) has admitted its low-end switches were overpriced and has slashed costs on four ProCurve switches.

John Weatherall, HP's director of networking in the UK, said the vendor is targeting new sectors to gain market share.

"Our focus, in terms of R&D and investment for networking, has been in the medium and high-end markets," he said.

"At the low end there are lots of customers using the unmanaged products, but we have been overpriced, so we are making this move to lower SME pricing."

Weatherall said pricing will be lowered by more than 40 per cent on its Procurve switches, 408, 2124, 2312 and 2324 ranges.

"Most analysts go by port shipment [to calculate who is leading the market] so we are trying to increase the volume of switches we sell," he added.

Phil Kennerdal, marketing manager at Abtec Network Systems, said: "Vendors usually drop prices because they're about to launch products.

"I prefer vendors not to cut prices, because it encourages box shifters into the market. We concentrate on services and L3 and L4 switching."