Will Cisco create a Tandberg channel partner stampede over to Polycom?

In an ironic twist, is it possible that a video clip revealed insincerity from John Chambers?

Earlier this week I blogged that a Cisco purchase of Tandberg will create a financial disaster for Tandberg channel partners. Then only 2 days later, consultation and collaboration platform provider - Gerson Lehrman Group, published:

"The complexity of the technology, the longer sales cycle and the economics of selling video are not compatible with the CISCO go to market model. Serious channel conflict between the exisitng CISCO channels and those used by Tandberg together with a different set of expectations will almost certainly drive the all important video resellers closer to Polycom."

I believe Tandberg channel partners will stampede to join the Polycom partner program. Obviously sensing the channel conflict, more than a week ago, Cisco tried to paint a rosy picture for Tandberg channel partners under new Cisco ownership. Nevertheless, I still don't buy it, why? Well, in the video below that discusses new video opportunities for both Tandberg and Cisco channel partners, at approximately the 4:25 time mark, Cisco CEO John Chambers insincerely (at least in my opinion), shook the hand of Tandberg CEO Fredrik Halvorsen:


What's your take, do you agree with me that Chambers' appears insincere in his handshake with Halvorsen?

Will the Polycom channel partner program become a magnet for Tandberg partners?

BradReese.Com Cisco Refurbished - Services that protect, maintain and optimize Cisco hardware Contact: Brad Reese | Twitter: http://twitter.com/BradReese

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