Channel Beat: Partners Confused In Wake Of Broadcom-Brocade Deal

(NOTE: This story was originally posted to CRN.com Nov, 3.)
 
Some partners are left confused over this week's news that Broadcom plans to buy Brocade Communications Systems, including Ruckus Wireless, for $5.9 billion.
 
Partners say Broadcom's divestiture of the business creates uncertainty that will impact the channel. 
 
Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said the move strengthens the company's position as a leader in the enterprise storage connectivity market, but partners want a road map.
 
Also, Lenovo eked out a profit in its second fiscal quarter, the company said this week.But the company faced sales drops from last year's second quarter in every main business category, including mobile devices.
 
Revenue in the second quarter was down 7.6 percent from the same quarter last year, but net income beat analysts' expectations. 
 
Lenovo's PC market share grew to 20.9 percent, despite falling shipments during the quarter.
 
Finally, CDW experienced challenges in its fiscal third quarter, as it saw declines in storage and networking sales.
 
CDW Chairman and CEO Tom Richards attributed that performance to a tough economic environment.
 
Services and software buoyed the company, with security services driving 12 percent growth. Hardware sales grew just 4 percent.