INTC introduces GBE products, part II
"Those prices would attract our attention," said John Ruhl,
strategic planner at the Aberdeen Test Center, in
Aberdeen, Md., which currently uses networking hardware
from Cabletron Systems Inc. "As we add buildings and
users to our network, we might add a vendor if the price is
compelling."
For the higher end, Intel will demonstrate an eight-port
Express 500-series Gigabit Ethernet routing switch. The
switch, which will officially debut in the second quarter,
will be targeted at "entry-level backbones, or companies
just setting up their first backbone," said Mark
Christensen, group manager for Intel's Network Products
Division in Hillsboro, Ore.
Most existing Gigabit switch/routers, Christensen said, are
targeted at larger enterprise backbones--a space in
which Intel does not wish to compete.
In the enterprise area, Intel will continue to leverage its
OEM agreements with major networking vendors Cisco
Systems Inc. and Bay Networks Inc.
Intel, which previously has focused its networking
business on lower-end products such as LAN adapters,
will face some challenges in wooing network administrators
who have long-standing relationships with more traditional
networking vendors such as Cisco.
"[Intel] will have a tough time of it," said Brendan
Hennigan, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc., in
Cambridge, Mass. "Right now, they can get in line behind
the [four major networking vendors]."
But as the world's leading chip maker, Intel's brand
recognition and dominance in the desktop space will likely
win over some networking converts.
"I like using Intel switches because I know the Intel PCs
will run well with the networking equipment," said Ha
Nguyen, senior engineer at Marquette Medical Systems
Inc., located in Torrance, Calif. "The price points are
another reason I use their equipment. I think Intel can
become a full-fledged networking company." |
