Cisco-EMC: The Next Great Tech Deal or Just Idle Speculation?

I think that it would be benefficial to all parties to merge. I've had many shares of EMC in the past. Presently none but berhaps soon.

Will probably simplify the purchase decisions for Fortune 500 customers - might be able to wring a lot of cost efficiencies in sales&marketing. Very interesting speculation.

It will never happen! Both companies are too independent.

i dig it.

NTAP would be a much better fit for CSCO, at a mere fraction of the price. The NetApp product line and Data ONTAP is well-aligned to Cisco's IOS legacy, and Cisco would execute on that model very well. If Cisco inherits the cacophony of architectures that EMC is still trying to cobble together, 1/3 would die by sensible exec decision, 1/3 would die from execution issues (in-sensible exec decisions), and the other 1/3 would die from competitors' execution. Plus, NetApp is a fraction of the cost of EMC, and doesn't come with a lot of host-side gorp that would be alien to Cisco's legacy. Easy decision.

It wont happen. Cisco is too concerned about culture shock and EMC does not even come close to sharing the same culture values as Cisco. Cisco is too smart to pay $40B for a poorly run company such as EMC.

Yes, NetApp is cheaper, but it is a one-trick pony (15 year old WAFL) with proven aquisition failure. No VMWare, RSA, Documentum, Captiva, etc., etc. etc. All leaders in their respective markets. And when you take into account the value of VMWare and the cash on hand, it is a no-brainer!!

NetApp vs. EMC as an acquisition candidate? How can you even make this comparison? EMC isn't perfect, but what company is? Bottom line - they are the leading company in almost every storage cateogry, own VMware/RSA, have a strong cash position and have delivered solid financials for the past few years. I don't see this merger happening.

I don't think this merger will be beneficial to either of the share holders.

This would actually be good for both companies and here's why. CSCO has been looking to strenthen their postion in Security, Storage and Improving Network Intelligence from the Host+ Server+Switch+Device layer. Also VMware would be a hugh play for CSCO and establish them as a player in the emerging vitualization market. An EMC/CSCO merger would mean game over for Netapps,HP/Hitachi, IBM XIV and all of the other impostors and CSCO would instantly gain 40% Storage Marketshare overnight.

There is no way this deal gets done --- Cisco can NOT and will not lay out the cash needed to buy the VM holdings....This is IBM's world folks ....Dont think for a minute BIG BLUE wont get their way ! IBM takes em out @ 27

Ummmmmmm......Again, Its IBM that NEEDS VMware

omg, is this all the tech ticker does... throw something on the wall and see if it sticks? "this is nothing that wall street is whispering about..." huh? I swear these people waste more time with talking speculation that will never had in a million years. BTW, if this is meant to bring me to the tech ticker area for me to then click on the ads? Doing a bad job of it.

I don't give a darn what happens as long as it benefits EMC stock holders. I just bought into it again this evening.

They should buy Citrix