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We're not a Cisco partner, so we became a Meraki reseller in order to be able to provide wireless gear. Now that Cisco has bought them, we'll have to look for another vendor as we're still not going to be a Cisco partner. We're the "not Cisco" guys, Juniper for switching, HP for servers, etc.

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That's exactly why Cisco had to buy them. They don't want to lose partner channel sales to companies that won't push Cisco. I expect there are a lot of parties in that boat or at least a very similar one.

Once you've made the step to not buy Cisco for one product the dam is breached and all your purchasing decisions that would otherwise default to Cisco are up for negotiations and alternatives.

This is a strategy that I've been told is effective in getting acquired. If your business is a huge pain in the ass to the incumbent's status quo, then said incumbent will acquire you; they won't shut the product down explicitly, but it'll lead a marginalized existence thereafter.

Madsushi, I feel your pain. That sucks when the big boys try and make a squeeze play on you. Have you found another vendor?

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