Nortel Networks today has announced a “lifetime warranty” on some of its technology, specifically its stackable Ethernet routing switch products.
It’s a brazen promise from an insolvent company that stands a high chance of being broken up.
But Nortel must do something to try to keep clients loyal as proceedings drag on in bankruptcy court. Sales have been tumbling since the equipment maker filed for creditor protection in January, down 37 per cent in the first quarter.
The warranty, of course, is referring to the lifetime of the products and not the tech icon itself.
The offer includes support from deployment through day-to-day operations, at no cost, for the life of the product. It also commits to next business day replacement for hardware in North America and next day shipment to customers in all other regions, Nortel says.
The lifetime warranty “allows our customers to plan the future of their business with confidence,” says Joel Hackney, president of the company’s enterprise solutions group.
Nortel’s customers would have much more confidence if the company filed its restructuring plan promptly and exited creditor protection.
