Dataplex opens Australian Aperture

Voice, data and wireless network integrator Dataplex, a subsidiary of ASX-listed telco Optecom, has been appointed as the sole distributor for US-based management software vendor Aperture.

According to Chris Kelliher, chairman of Dataplex, the deal will see the company sell Aperture product range direct to customers for the first six months before it opens up its disribution and develops reseller channels.

The deal was brokered by the Sydney office of the US Department of Commerce which is the US Government's export facilitation agency.

Kelliher estimates Aperture's "very sophisticated" network management tool with "a high component of consulting". As a result he is expecting the partnership will manifest into good revenues for Dataplex. He has targeted $2 million in revenues for the first six months and expects this to grow towards $10 million per annum.

"The software product is less than 50 per cent of any sale," Kelliher said. "The rest is consulting. It is a very high value- add product and takes highly skilled people to implement it.

"The consulting practice may be able to generate $5-10 million in revenues per annum and when we start introducing resellers, that will climb even further."

Dataplex is recruiting five staff who will be trained to the required level of accreditation -in addition to some of its existing technical people. It is now positioning itself as being an integrator and implementor of "next-generation networks", according to Kelliher.

This involves going beyond just selling and rolling out the hardware and progresses towards management services and business consulting, he said.

"The next generation of network integrators will be more than just plumbers," Kelliher evangelised. "Organisations need to be able to optimise their networks for business benefit. They also have to be extremely secure and be able to pioritise users.

"Aperture's product offerings are consistent with that vision and direction."

Other vendor partners that Dataplex works with include: Top Layer Networks (including exclusive support provision), Breezecom (remote wireless access), Allied Telesyn, Bulletin.net (wireless messaging), RAD (data communication gear) and Juniper Networks.