HP launches trade-in salvo at Cisco

Duo firmly off each other's Christmas card lists as HP targets $9bn of old Cisco equipment with trade-in programme

HP and Cisco’s dust up escalated this week as the former launched an aggressive trade-in programme aimed at Cisco customers.

The US-only programme, dubbed “A Catalyst for Change” in reference to Cisco’s Catalyst switches, offers Cisco customers 20 per cent off the list price on HP A-Series and E-Series switches.

The initiative is just the latest salvo in the increasingly violent skirmish between the former allies, although there is as yet no confirmation it will be rolled to Europe. Hostilities between the duo reached a climax earlier this year when Cisco booted HP off its partner programme.

HP said A Catalyst for Change is aimed at converting the nearly $9bn (£5.8bn) in [US] Cisco networking equipment that is approaching end of life or service in 2011.

The order must be accompanied with a trade-in of eligible Cisco Catalyst 2960/S Series, 3560/E Series/X Series, 3750/E Series/X Series, 4500 E Series, 4900 Series or 6500 Series, as well as Cisco Nexus 5000 Series or 7000 Series switches.

HP stuck the boot in further by branding Cisco’s networking gear “complex, proprietary and expensive”.

John Kissane, vice president, Americas sales, HP Networking: “Under the single-vendor stronghold of the past, enterprise networks have gotten too complex, difficult to manage and expensive.

“HP Networking gives organisations a choice that delivers unprecedented flexibility, performance and agility, which ultimately enables our clients to be more competitive.”

Cisco declined to comment.