By Dhaval Valia
Smartlink Network Systems, the company formed after the de-merger with D-Link India, has entered the active networking space with the launch of its own brand called Digisol.
Under the new networking brand, Smartlink will focus on four areas—switches, broadband routing, wireless and VoIP.
“In the first phase we have introduced our 8, 16 and 24-port unmanaged Fast and Gigabit Ethernet switches, and ADSL modems. In the coming months we will introduce other product lines to cover the entire range of what we call converged communication solutions,” informed Milind Tamhane, Vice President, Sales, Smartlink.
With the launch of the active networking brand, Smartlink now has two brands—Digilink for structured cabling and passive networking components, and Digisol. The company will follow the same distribution model that it follows for Digilink products. “We will follow the regional distribution model which we have pioneered, and sell Digisol through our 25 regional distributors,” said Tamhne. “For the national systems integrator (NSI) we will work with Ingram Micro which is also our NSI distributor for structured cabling.”
Digisol products will be available from April this year. “We are aiming for commercial availability of Digisol switches from the first week of April, and we will announce the pricing for the products then. We have rolled out a launch scheme wherein we are bundling Digilink patch cords with our switches and ADSL modems,” Tamhane stated.
He added that all the products will be RoHS-compliant, and come with lifetime warranty. They will be supported by the 28 RMA centers that the company has across the country.
Smartlink is aiming to achieve the number two position in the low-end switching category in the first year itself. “Our USP will be green, lifetime warranty, quality of post-sales support, price-performance, and product design and packaging. All the switches we have introduced so far are designed, developed and manufactured at our Goa facility,” said Tamhane.
Asked if the launch of active networking products will create conflict with D-Link, Tamhane replied, “There was no non-compete agreement with D-Link at the time of the de-merger, hence we have the option to venture into any product segment we wish to, and so has D-Link. Yes we do have the same set of regional distributors, and we share the same support infrastructure, but both of us will compete on our own merits. Our focus is clearly going to be on B and C-class cities.”
Smartlink is currently training its regional distributors in the new products, and will soon launch an aggressive marketing campaign for customers and channels. |