Software-Focused

With more than 2,200 Cisco partners flocking to Montreal next week for the 2015 Cisco Partner Summit, CRN was able to speak with Cisco global Channel Chief Bruce Klein about the networking giant's focus leading up to the event.

Klein, senior vice president of Cisco's worldwide partner organization, told CRN about the San Jose, Calif.-based company's goal to steer channel partners to build out software practices and increase their services offerings around software.

He also gave CRN an update on Cisco ONE software progress, his thoughts on competition from Hewlett-Packard and a few key areas that will be highlighted during the conference. Edited excerpts of the conversation with CRN Executive Editor Jennifer Follett and CRN Associate Editor Mark Haranas follow.