CRN Networking News

AT&T is reportedly planning to phase out many of its Cisco switches in favor of open source networking hardware of its own design. The move could mean faster service delivery from AT&T, as well as the opportunity for partners to develop their own services on top of a more flexible, innovative AT&T network.

"Our strategy is really about quality over quantity," Vice President of Channel Sales Mitchell Bell said. "We're not one of those organizations that just recruits massively."

An independent researcher discovered the most critical flaw allowing attackers to exploit client software for rapidly standing up network devices.

Plantronics is buying UC and collaboration systems provider Polycom for $2 billion in a deal that will create a "communications and collaboration gold standard" for partners and end customers, the companies said.

The move gives HPE Aruba a toehold in the red-hot SD-WAN market, which by some estimates could grow to $8 billion in the next three years.

"Aruba is leading the charge when it comes to the analytical side," Chad Williams, president of solution provider PIERGroup said. "There are other players in the market, but I don't think that are nearly at the level that Aruba has been at and where they're headed.

Partners can speak with a wide range of stakeholders and offer a service where they monitor the offering, let them know what they find, and decide whether or not make a recommendation, says Fierro.

TouchCast co-founder and CEO Edo Sega says the company is counting on the channel to push its company's new Pitch smart video platform into customer environments where Microsoft Office 365 and traditional storage hardware are being sold.