Network Engines Acquires Storage Distributor

specialty distributor.

The acquisition of Westborough, Mass.-based TidalWire gives Network Engines immediate access to an instant channel of 400 solution providers, said Mike Riley, vice president of marketing at Canton-based Network Engines. Network Engines builds appliance servers for software developers looking to integrate storage, security and network management applications into hardware devices for easy deployment.

ISVs had been asking the company for help with distribution as they start targeting the SMB market, but Network Engines had been unable to help until now, Riley said. "They asked us if we have any VAR relationships, and we said, 'Frankly, no.' "

Jeff Brandes, president and CEO of TidalWire, said the acquisition is a big boost for his company as it moves to take on new product lines.

"Distribution is a business of volume and leverage," Brandes said. "We have a wonderful infrastructure and customer base, [and we are always looking for new products for that infrastructure and customer base. When we talked to Network Engines, we found a perfect fit."

Riley and Brandes said that they expect TidalWire to leverage its storage expertise to add new distribution capabilities for security and network management products.

J. Edward McCann, regional manager at Continental Resources, a Bedford, Mass.-based solution provider that is one of Sun Microsystems' biggest channel partners and a TidalWire customer, called the acquisition a good move.

"TidalWire has a state-of-the-art distribution infrastructure," McCann said. "TidalWire has best-of-breed SAN products. They are unique in their 24x7 support and know their products better than other value-added distributors."