Chennai: Extreme Networks has completed its $55 million acquisition of Zebra Technologies’ wireless LAN business.
Executives at Extreme Networks said the acquisition helps of the company’s goal of expanding its presence across various verticals, including education, healthcare, government and manufacturing. CEO Ed Meyercord said the acquisition keeps Extreme positioned as the third biggest provider within the enterprise campus market. [Read the full story here]
The acquisition also gives Extreme partners access to Zebra’s hospitality vertical customers as well as the ability to add two new verticals – retail and transportation– to the channel’s portfolio.
“The addition of the WLAN assets increases our total addressable market to $9.4 billion in one of the fastest growing segments of the networking industry and expands our bench with talented key management, experienced wireless industry experts and partners, and a strong base of blue-chip customers,” he said on Monday.
The purchase includes Zebra’s WLAN customers, personnel and technology assets, which Extreme says will lead to more than $115 million in annual revenue. The company first announced the deal in September in a play to capitalize on WLAN, which Meyercord called “the fastest growing segment in the networking industry.”
“The acquired technology complements Extreme’s existing portfolio of software-driven networking solutions and provides new opportunities for its entire ecosystem of partners, distributors, customers and employees,” said Nolan Greene, senior research analyst at IDC. “The enterprise WLAN market is one of the fastest growing networking segments globally and Extreme is solidifying its role as a major player in the marketplace through this deal.”
Extreme Networks sales chief Bob Gault said his partners will get access to more mobility services, including its WiNG Wi-Fi technology and wireless security software.
“Zebra partners will be offered the opportunity to become a part of a unified partner program under Extreme’s award-winning Extreme Partner Network, which offers incentives that increase profitability and simplify the way channel partners do business,” Gault told Channel Partners in September.
“Zebra partners will also be offered access to a program designed to enable and reward channel partners through new solution-selling, new customer acquisition and wireless specialization rebates in addition to deal registration programs and training,” he added.
Extreme Networks in India:
The company had recently appointed a new boss for the Indian operations recently. Subhasish Gupta will drive the next phase of growth for Extreme Networks in India and SAARC region, just ahead of the company’s significant investment in the wireless marketing. Gupta will be responsible for driving the next phase of growth for the networking vendor in India and SAARC region.
Also Read: Extreme Networks Promises Exclusivity, Profitability For Partners
In an interview for Channel Times last year, the company said it had around 15 partners across the country to offer end-to-end solutions. It is only into the B2B segments right from a SMB till a large PSU business.
“We are known for our rebate programs and training. We have allotted funds (EDF-Extreme development fund) for our channel partners to conduct training meetings for the CIOs in their region and we also have trained 40 resources working in the organizations of the channel partners.