Madge launches global services

NEWS Robert Madge, chairman and CEO of struggling vendor, Madge Networks, today launched a strategy he believes will drag the company from the doldrums. Speaking at a press event in central London, Madge said the way forward was not a general move to true converged networks - but rather a move to the business principles and advantages of such a system. Madge said the technology for true convergence is not ready, but customers are looking for a single vendor to supply all their needs. "Customers don't care if it goes down one pipe or not," he claimed. Madge - firmly identified by most with token-ring and video networking technology - claims its global network now puts the company in sixth place worldwide. The company claims the 'One Network' programme will allow businesses to move to IP (Internet protocol) standards gradually as the technology becomes available. Madge wants to provide networks which remove the divisions between local and wide area networks, and between voice, data and video. All the various services from managed private data networks to complex Web hosting and virtual private networks are offered with service level agreements. A video interview with Robert Madge will be shown on Silicon.com's Fast Networking Channel later this month.