New Partnership Could Bolster Open Source Networks
It’s a small partnership that could have a big impact in the world of open source networking. Two tiny companies — Digium and Vyatta — have caught The VAR Guy’s attention. And they deserve your attention, too.
First, let’s set some expectations. Big, traditional networking firms like Cisco and Nortel won’t fade away anytime soon. But many customers are now familiar with open source software. It’s only natural, looking ahead, that some of those customers will increasingly express interest in open source networking gear. Enter Digium and Vyatta.
Digium specializes in Asterisk, the open source IP telephony platform. The company is growing fast, building a channel program and opening a new headquarters later this year. Vyatta specializes in open source routing, firewall and VPN solutions. Combine the two product portfolios into an end-to-end solution, and you’ve got a heck of a business strategy — at least on paper.
It’s too early to predict whether the Digium-Vyatta partnership will succeed. Plenty of logical business relationships fail because companies can’t agree on various priorities (R&D, marketing, customer support, pricing, etc.). But in this case, Digium and Vyatta both adhere to open source business practices, where collaboration is the norm.
Interestingly, Digium and Vyatta mentioned Unified Communications as one of the key reasons they are partnering. That could be pure posturing. But it could also mean that the companies are serious about competing with 3Com, Cisco, Nortel and niche networking firms that serve small and midsize businesses.
For VARs, this is truly a partnership worth watching.
[…] within the Asterisk market are popping up regularly. Another relationship of note involves Digium working closely with Vyatta, which specializes in open source networking […]