Cisco doubles VIP rebates on core kit

Vendor closes partner summit by reiterating commitment to routing and switching space

Cisco closed its 2011 partner summit by unveiling a crowd-pleasing move to double Value Incentive Programme rebates on its bread-and-butter networking wares.

Executive vice president of worldwide operations Rob Lloyd yesterday told attendees in New Orleans that rebates on two core routing and switching lines are to be pushed up to 40 per cent. Included in the offer is the Catalyst family of switches, featuring the 3560X and 3750X models, as well as the 4500 series. Also covered is the ISR G2 range of routers, incorporating the 1900, 2900 and 3900 models.

Lloyd also told partners that they could cash in on an offer to give them $2,000 for every customer network assessment they undertake as part of the vendor's Installed Base Lifecycle Management programme.

The operations chief concluded by telling VARs that, whatever high-end new areas the vendor is branching into, it remains committed to being the leader in its traditional core business.

"We care about routing and switching and our position as the leader, and we care about market share and we absolutely will not allow this to become a commodity market," he said.