Quantum Bundles Dedupe, VTL, NAS With Disk Backup Appliance

Quantum is trying to make it easier for solution providers to add deduplication and other services to customers' storage infrastructures with the introduction this week of a new channel-exclusive bundle.

The new DXi7500 Express bundles the company's DXi7500 disk backup appliance with a number of storage software applications, and is list-priced below the DXi7500 appliance when sold by itself, said Greg Fredericks, director of channel marketing for the San Jose, Calif.-based storage vendor.

The company also unveiled its QuikFit application for enabling solution providers to quickly configure and quote a DXi solution, Fredericks said.

"As this business grows, we have a better handle on the best way to size the solution for the customer," he said. "It lets partners quickly quote a solution without further involvement from Quantum."

The DXi7500 Express comes bundled with Quantum's data deduplication, virtual tape library, and NAS capabilities, Fredericks said.

The new DXi7500 Express product is currently available, and lists for $98,250 with 9 Tbytes of capacity. The DXi7500, when purchased separately with that software bundle, would list for $137,250. However, Fredericks said, the pricing is structured such that buying an 18-Tbyte DXi7500 would still be more cost effective than buying a DXi7500 Express at 9 Tbytes and purchasing the upgrade to 18 Tbytes.

One Quantum solution provider, who preferred to remain anonymous, said selling the DXi7500 Express with the software bundle is a good move for Quantum. "Any time you put a nice bundle together, it's good for the channel," the solution provider said.

However, the solution provider said, Quantum is facing a major issue that causing customers to think twice about buying its products: its stock price, which by Friday afternoon was only 14 cents per share.

"Customers have to be looking at that share price in terms of their long-term dealing with Quantum, even though EMC and Dell OEM its products," the solution provider said.

Quantum in May signed a deal with EMC under which EMC is OEMing Quantum's dedupe technology.

The deal was followed in November with a similar arrangement between Quantum and Dell.

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