Recently formed company boasts the largest global R&D capabilities in communications

Alcatel has claimed its channel will benefit from stronger branding and new products after its merger with Lucent Technologies.

The telephony vendors merged last week and now claims to have created one of the largest global R&D capabilities in communications. However, there will be reductions in the companies’ combined worldwide workforce of about 10 per cent.

Paul Ballinger, sales director for the UK and Ireland at Alcatel, told CRN: “It makes us the biggest telecoms vendor across the globe and it strengthens our enterprise portfolio. It will benefit our channel in terms of brand presence. I’m sure there will be new products in the future.”

Patricia Russo, chief executive of Lucent, who will become chief executive of the combined company, said: “This presents extraordinary opportunities for our combined company to accelerate its growth. The combination creates a new industry competitor with the most comprehensive portfolio. It will then be poised to deliver significant benefits to customers, shareowners and employees.”

Jim Robertson, sales manager at Alcatel distributor MTV Telecom, said: “I see the merger as a positive thing. It will help strengthen the product set, but I do not think it will make a great deal of difference to us. The only short-term effect could be personnel changes at Alcatel.”

David Hennell, commercial manager at broadliner Northamber, said: “As an Alcatel distributor focused on the IT space, the merger with a company such as Lucent is good for us. I suspect the primary motivation for the merger was convergence.”

Matthew Ball, research analyst at Canalys, said: “There is a need for vendors to develop alliances to cover voice, video and security, which only a few can currently do.”