I couldn't disagree more, for years this market has been in consolidation mode with the significant exception of the security appliance market.

The confusion comes from Cisco and, to an extent Juniper, who regard the network as an entity or asset in itself. It's time to realise that the network is only an asset to service providers. For enterpises the network is a communication vehicle and application delivery mechanism, no more no less.

In the same way that consumers view the internet as a service, application users in all organsiations need to assert their requirements on network departments for service levels and support. How many times do we hear people apologise for their system running slowly and we all know it's not the application that's slow.

No, it's time that Cisco's grip on the network world was lessened in favour of the real productivity providers the application architects. Their virtual monopoly of network infrastructure in the enterprise space is slowing down the move to consolidation of these technologies that would be to the benefit of millions of remote users.

Steve Palmer
Wireless Network & Video

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