BLADE Network Technologies is a server and data center switch company that competes with Cisco Systems. BLADE Network Technologies raised $10 million in funding led by NEC and Juniper Networks. Garnett & Helfrich Capital, the initial investor in Blade Network also participated in this round. Blade has raised $40 million in total funding thus far.
BLADE Network is led by CEO Vikram Mehta. Mehta said that BLADE was able to effectively compete against Cisco and 3Com because hardware does not cost much these days. “Our real story is software” stated Mehta in an interview with VentureBeat. Based on this round of funding, BLADE is valuated at $230 million.
Kevin Johnson, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) President, Platforms & Services Division has stepped down to work for Juniper Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:JNPR). Johnson led Microsoft’s bid for the acquisition of Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO).
Johnson joined Microsoft in 1992 and reported directly to CEO, Steve Ballmer. As Johnson walks away from the company, the Platforms and Services dvision will have a re-organization. On May 18, 2008, Johnson sent out an e-mail regarding Microsoft’s execution against their own core strategies. Johnson came up with four pillars to pursue opportunity in online services/advertising:
1. Consolidate ad platform and win in display
2. Innovate and disrupt in search
3. Deliver end-to-end user experiences across PC, phone, and Web
4. Reinvent portal and social media experiences
Johnson’s responsibilities at Juniper are not yet known.
