HDS hails Sun split for record Q3

Vendor cites end of Sun reseller deal as key factor in Q3 success

Vendor cites end of Sun reseller deal as key factor in Q3 success

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) has become the latest storage vendor to cite the fallout from the Sun-Oracle merger as having a positive impact on its business.

HDS said the merger, which led to the cessation of its reseller agreement with Sun, was a key factor in making its third quarter the most successful in the vendor's history.

During Q3 the vendor claims to have achieved 20 per cent growth worldwide, as well as percentage growth in the "high teens" across Europe and in the "mid-20s" within APAC.

Randy DeMont, global head of sales at HDS, said its decision to cut ties with Sun had helped drive Q3 sales.

He explained: "Once we cancelled the agreement with Sun, we reached out to customers that had purchased our products through Sun to go direct with us in the future. That has been a great success for us and our partners."

DeMont's declaration follows similar pronouncements by storage vendors Pillar Data Systems and SGI who both claim to have picked up Sun partners disgruntled by the Oracle buyout.

DeMont said the vendor's Q3 performance should ensure the firm closes its financial year in March on a high, and is in a position to wrestle market share off its rivals.

He said: "Entering our final quarter, we will have a backlog of business worth $120m, which puts us in a remarkable position.

"In our place in the market, we compete with EMC at every turn and, beyond that, it's the standard players such as IBM and NetApp. There's plenty of room for growth," DeMont continued.

In related news, HDS UK and Ireland vice president Steve Murphy, stood down earlier this week. CRN understands he has taken a management role at HP UK and Ireland. More to follow.