Extreme Networks makes cow eyes at Aruba customers

Networking vendor targets businesses 'determining the impact of the Aruba-HP situation' by offering discounts of up to 50 per cent

Extreme Networks is offering Aruba and HP customers discounts of up to 50 per cent as it looks to exploit any uncertainty around the duo's impending union.

Under a promotion that will run from April until December, Extreme is offering existing Aruba and HP customers its secure mobility package for as little as half price, with a further 50 per cent off the first year of maintenance.

The package includes 25 IdentiFi access points, virtualised mobility controller, software licences for network management, BYOD and network access control, wireless IPS and application analytics.

HP said its $3bn (£1.9bn) acquisition of wireless LAN vendor Aruba would create a "leading competitor in the $18bn campus networking sector". The deal, announced at the start of March, is expected to close in the second half of 2015.

However, Extreme Networks claimed that Aruba customers continuing to procure their Wi-Fi from Aruba-HP would have to buy separately sold components with "costly feature licences" and separate maintenance fees. It promised to offer an equivalent solution under only one part number.

"This all-inclusive secure mobility with analytics for the private cloud solution demonstrates how Extreme Networks is aggressively establishing the benchmark in secure Wi-Fi mobility," said Jeff White, chief revenue officer at Extreme Networks.

"Based on award-winning network technology, this package will appeal not only to businesses determining the impact of the Aruba-HP situation, but to the broad base of healthcare, education, sports and entertainment, enterprise, and government users worldwide."

Chris Elliot, channel director, UK & Ireland, Extreme Networks, added that partners will be "instrumental in helping us to spread the word" about the offer.

"This week's announcement of the Aruba/HP offer is a first-of-its kind package that delivers key technology addressing the top priorities in IT, including security, mobility, cloud and analytics," he said. "Most importantly, our 'No Compromise' offer ensures that Aruba and HP customers will get everything they require without the need to omit or delay their purchases."