It is a strategic move on Dell’s part. In the past, their service offerings have been basic, compared to larger competitors like IBM and HP. Acquiring Perot allows them to provide consulting and systems integration services at a higher level.

But at what cost? Dell has already been under fire as one of the biggest vendors to create channel conflict with its own partners since the creation of its partner program. And now that Dell is expanding its own services offering with this acquisition and gaining more than 1,000 new customers – mostly in vertical markets like healthcare and the government — it’s hard to imagine how this doesn’t create conflict with its already aggravated partners. 

“I don’t think that Dell is trying to be channel friendly,” said Peter Hirschfeld, CEO and president of Personal Computer Resources in Braintree, Mass., and former Dell partner. “They are on a strategic mission to compete at the highest level of services and with the acquisition of Perot Systems, they have arrived.” Hirschfeld also notes that Dell’s prior acquisitions of SilverBack and Everdream have provided Dell with the network management infrastructure services to compete with others.

Get more information on Dell’s acquisition of Perot Systems in this news article by Barb Darrow, Senior News Director for SearchITChannel.com.

I’d love to hear what networking solution providers have to say about this. Think Dell is trying to help partners or hurt them? Send me an email at ehom@techtarget.com.