CIOL: Explain briefly about the new product? 

Rahul Guha: The Hitachi Simple Modular Storage (HSMS) comes with an enterprise-class features and is targeted at the SMB storage space. The product simple to manage and has plug and play system, a unique feature that enables the customer to install the product easily without the help of an IT manager or a technician. It provides non-disruptive operations for five years or more. Simple Modular Storage 100 is a single product available in several configurations to meet the business requirements. 

CIOL: How does the product help in scaling up the business?

RG: HSMS is ideal for the SMBs that run business with two to six servers. The Simple Modular Storage offers great value with advanced data protection, easy upgradation and key enterprise features. The built in data protection feature enables 99 percent uptime data availability. The product continues to operate even in the case of disk drive failure and preserves the data. The availability of two repair slots do not demand you to replace the unit instead put a new simple modular storage in place, plug it in which helps in copying the old data to a new array automatically. Secondly, the auto-migration feature in the HSMS enables simple and secure upgradation by eliminating backup headaches and creating instantaneous snap or copying everything on a new data. It also offers optional remote replication. Thirdly, it incorporates enterprise class features that offer high performance at low cost.

CIOL: Your partnership with Ingram and strategies to target the SMB market? What do you expect from the partnership? 

RG: Hitachi has been targeting the SMB market for the last one and half years through its association with Ingram Micro. Apart from product distribution, which has been happening through the channel partners, Ingram Micro's market survey adds value to our business. 

CIOL: What percentage of revenue is Hitachi likely to generate from the SMB market?

RG: The product has been launched across the globe and is getting a good feedback. We expect 15 to 20 percent of the revenue from the SMB market for the year 2008.