Dell set to connect with resellers

Low-end networking kit now sold over the web

Dell has officially begun to sell low-end networking equipment on the web, a move which could lead to the vendor working with the channel.

The low-end equipment, which is targeted at small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), has been launched under the new PowerConnect brand. It will feature four networking switches which connect PCs and servers. The company has claimed that the products can be fitted out of the box without the need for specialist assistance.

Kim Crawford, general manager at Dell Networking, said: "Our SME customers say they want affordable networking products that are easy to install and manage. They want the convenience of buying switches when they make their server and computer purchases."

Mick Keeble, sales director at reseller Croft, said Dell's move into networks could ultimately unite it with the channel. "If the scheme is successful it will be interesting to see if Dell introduces higher-end hardware, because these products will need installing and servicing; no company has the logistics to do it all themselves. It could force Dell to work with the channel," he said.

Analysts have forecast that the scheme will succeed. Gartner said Dell's products were competitively priced and estimated that the company could take 10 per cent of the low-end market by the end of next year.

The products in the PowerConnect range include the 5012, a managed all-Gigabit switch featuring 10 ports and 2Gb interface slots, which costs $1299. The 3024 is a managed workgroup switch with 24 Fast Ethernet ports and 2Gb Ethernet ports which support stacking. It costs $699.

Finally, the 2024 and 2016 are unmanaged switches with Fast Ethernet capability. The 24-port 2024 costs $239, and the 16-port 2016 costs $169.