Softalk claims move to axe products will benefit channel

Vendor throws weight behind Mail Server and Workgroup Share products as part of post-acquisition refocus

Vendor Softalk has insisted its move to end support for three of its products will be positive for its customers and channel as it invests in its remaining two offerings.

The messaging and collaboration vendor discontinued support for its CRM product Office Talk as well as its Share Server and Mail Disclaimer products at the turn of 2013, but insists the move will provide long-term benefits for its customers.

It marks a refocus in the Somerset-based firm's strategy after it was acquired by Gordano in 2010.

The vendor claims the restructure will see it pump more time and energy into its remaining Mail Server and Workgroup Share products, which are the main items sold by its 21-strong army of UK VARs.

Softalk's head of technical services Ben Dobson claimed that the response from its reseller base was varied, but insisted the move was for their benefit.

"Some [resellers] were upset; some didn't care. The ones that were upset understood the message that we would migrate them in the easiest possible way with the least impact on [their] business," he said.

"Fundamentally, the product they will end up with is better than the ones we are end-of-lifing. We are not saying ‘this is not supported, go away', we are saying we will focus our energy on Workgroup Share and other products... and we will tailor these to them."

One channel source claimed that Softalk's Share Server product was popular among very small businesses, and said it was a good alternative to Microsoft's Small Business Server as it cost significantly less.

Softalk was keen to add that although support for the products is no longer available, the perpetual licensing means they will never stop working.

Softalk added that the firm is on the verge of announcing a wave of new updates to the products as well as investing in a new website.

Dobson said Gordano has helped refocus and reinvigorate its business after it took over, claiming that its customer base had been neglected before the acquisition.