This is not an easy business. Xylan competes with some large and competent firms, including 3Com and Nortel, the giant Canadian equipment firm that is in the field through its acquisition of Bay Networks. Even more worrisome, Cisco is a contender. Xylan s strategy is simply to offer the best products in the areas where it competes, and not to be all things to all customers. At less than one-thirtieth the size of Cisco, in terms of sales, Xylan can pick its markets.
Management claims the company s youth is an advantage.
Xylan was born only in 1993 and shipped its first products in January of 1995. Thus the company is not saddled with any old technology or old ideas. While a great company, Cisco has growth largely through acquisition. Therefore it does have some older and some inconsistent technology in its portfolio. While quite young, Xylan is no stumbling upstart.