Cisco brings Linksys channel inside

Some 20,000 Linksys global channel partners will become part of the Cisco Channel Partner Programme and the benefits and obligations that come with that. As a “natural evolution of the Cisco small and medium-sized business (SMB) go-to-market strategy”, Cisco says that it is incorporating the Linksys Small-Business Channel Partner Program services and assets into the Cisco Channel Partner Program.

This process includes bringing the Linksys Business Series products into the Cisco SMB portfolio and providing Cisco channel partners with access to a more diverse solution set to allow for more choice and increased revenue potential.

“The SMB market continues to present tremendous growth potential for Cisco and our channel partners, and we have been successfully serving the sector with solutions from both Cisco and Linksys,” said Andrew Sage, vice president of Small Business Sales, Worldwide Channels at Cisco.

Linksys Partner Connection (LPC) members have until September 16, 2008, to become Cisco Registered Channel Partners. Cisco channel partner benefits include, but are not limited to, access to demo equipment, financial incentives, sales support via Small Business Market Managers, lead generation via the SMB website on Cisco.com, and access to marketing resources such as Cisco Campaign Builder, and Cisco Partner Central.