Polycom & HP Tie UP

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWNAB175220100319

I was half write in a post several months ago. I actually thought HP would buy Polycom...but its just a reseller agreement.   

As all of you know, I currently work for 3COM who is currently working on closing the merger with HP.  As I previously stated, I will not blog about 3com or about HP.  Being that PLCM is a partner of HP, and being that I'm not a HP employee yet, and I don't know their blogging policy, I'll probably not make any further comments.

I guess we'll wait and see how this plays out.  Its certainly very interesting...

Tandberg EX90

Damn... i thought the 1700 MXP was sweet hardware...but this just puts it to shame.  And who can argue with 1080p30?

http://www.tandberg.com/telepresence-products/personal-telepresence-ex90.jsp

I wonder how intuitive the touch panel is?   With how cheap touch screens are...if I was designing the hardware, I would have dropped the panel and made the whole screen touch aware.

Polycom taken private?

So, finally, something interesting.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/99867380-3157-11df-9741-00144feabdc0.html

When I hear about buyouts like the above, I start to think about what one could do. Certainly, Apax could do some bundling with either companies it has investments in like Smart Technologies:

http://www.apax.com/en/investments/smart-technologies-inc.html

or, it could be the start of more purchases by Apax. Potentially, they'll look at a data company, a voice company. Maybe an Audiocodes, Broadsoft, or other switch providers.

Or...Apax could notice what I've mentioned to many, which is that PLCM has some unlocked value. Split off voice and sell it to a hardware manufacturer that can apply some scale and unlock extra margin. Or to switch only provider that would like to have their own phones. Take the patents and put them into a Patent troll company and go out and make some money just on royalties. Or... one thing I've said to many parties is become an OEM only manufacturer. And make products for others to put their name on. Why do I say that? Because.. PLCM has been a terrible sales company and a terrible marketer of technology and also has been short sighted on strategic goals....but they have been a good innovator and have had fairly good r&d.

Lots of potential here to be unlocked..which ever way it flies.

Sorry about my disappearance

Just nothing good lately to say... and no juicy rumors!

Cisco

Ok, this is just way to funny for to pass up (and will be one of very few posts about 3com & hp)

"Cisco has apparently put out an internal memo announcing that Cisco is dumping HP as a certified partner. Cisco plans to notify HP that it will not renew its partner contract which expires in April. "

http://siliconangle.com/blog/2010/02/18/bang-bang-cisco-dumps-hp-as-certified-partner-hp-returns-fire-with-deal-with-qlogic/

All I have to say is...what did Cisco really think was going to happen when they announced they were going to get in the server market?  duh!

Cisco roadmap for Tandberg

I'm looking forward to seeing how this will all play out as the merger completes:

http://www.crn.com/networking/222700495;jsessionid=URKTXISE02HZ1QE1GHOSKH4ATMY32JVN

RVSN and Aethra

Sorry for the lapse in posts..I'm quite busy in my new job and very little time to post...but I saw this one today and I had to post it:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/radvision-to-acquire-selected-assets-of-aethra-2010-02-03?siteid=nbkh


On first glance, it makes sense.  Aethra currently oem's RVSN mcus.   RVSN is close to losing big OEM partners:  LS and CSCO.  (both should stop this year)  


Doing the deal is probably pretty good for both companies as it blends together and creates an end to end company. And, as well, since Aethra already knows how to sell RVSN, its pretty easy.  They are relatively close to each other:  Italy & Israel.  


The only issue is that the new combined company needs badly to put together a credible sales force.  They don't have the number of bodies that are needed to make it work.