Gemini Communication’s USP : By - Mr. Raju Business Head – Security & Storage, Gemini Communication Ltd.

While all competing networking companies focus on building LAN & WAN infrastructure, Gemini Communication focusses its energies beyond. Gemini believes in providing comprehensive understanding of Networks’ performance built already or the ones getting built. In an interaction with’VARIndia, Mr. Raju, Business Head – Security & Storage, Gemini Communication Ltd., told that Gemini takes pride in qualifying as a Technology Evaluation company and not just a Network Installation or Integration company.

From Hi-Tech to Communications

Gemini Hi-Tech was set up as a partnership company in 1991 to manufacture monochrome monitors. In 1995, Gemini Communication Ltd. took over Gemini Hi-Tech Co. with an objective to provide IT solutions in the then emerging markets.

And now for the last eleven years, Gemini Communication has built up a reputation of being one of the most innovative Networking companies in India.

The wide spectrum of Solution offerings enables Gemini to compete against the best of breed in technology and Services. It also enables a very sound technical understanding and knowledge of the business, customer needs and technical updating that so dynamically happens. He told, “For our sincere efforts and innovation, we won the Cisco Reseller of the Year Award – 2000; repeated it in 2001.

” Today, Gemini Technology has a strong technology base to provide world-class solutions to its customers catered under the five different ways: LAN / WAN Division, Computer Telephony Integration (CTI), NetworkCARE Services & Products, Wireless & Telecom and RFID.

NetworkCARE

Gemini brings varied expertise and experience of implementing several projects in India. Its NetworkCARE division, operational as a separate profit centre of parent company, Gemini Communication Ltd., since 2000 offered solutions on Test & Measurement tools and Network Services, to begin with. “But, currently, we offer total solutions on Test & Measurement, Security, Storage, Bandwidth Management solutions and network services,” added Raju.

The NetworkCARE division grew at a good pace in adopting new technology standards and expertise in the same to create IT infrastructure for their customers, who run their applications round the clock. “We ensure that the team undergoes continuous training to keep the skills up-to-date, helping to support the customer faster and better,” he informed further.

Since the company believes in people more than the products, Gemini tries to solve the customer’s problems and not simply push products and leverage the experience in networking to understand issues and recommend solutions. Raju says, “We constantly strive to improve solutions and add technologies that meet customer business needs not only for today but for tomorrow’s competitive world as well.”

NetworkCARE and Partners

NetworkCARE’s offerings can further be divided into four sub-categories.’Gemini offers state-of-the-art technology solutions with partnerships from leading technology companies around the world. “We had aligned strategic relationship with complementary technologies to ensure the best possible solution is delivered to our customers,” he added.

For Enterprise Network Supervision Tools, Gemini has partnered with Fluke Networks Inc. and Converged Access for Enterprise Bandwidth Management. For Enterprise Network Security, it has partnered with WatchGuard, TrendMicro and ISS across the country. And last but not the least, for Enterprise Storage Solutions partners, the list includes CA, Legato Software, Tandberg Data, EMC and Hitachi Data Systems.

Earlier, Gemini used to recommend software-based firewalls to their customers, but after evaluating the advantages of hardware-based firewalls Gemini opted to re-position their offering to the customers. From four different manufacturers, Gemini finally drilled down to WatchGuard after Proof of Concept.

“We are the first system integrator to have signed with WatchGuard, around 3-4 years back. We had initial“‘teething’ problems in positioning the products, as it was dominated by major brands, but now all our customers are much satisfied with WatchGuard’s feature benefits, and its performance,” added Raju.

This Chennai-based company about a year back only has entered the north and west markets. He further informed VARIndia that as per Gemini’s NetworkCARE customer base tally, there are 140 customers in the West and around 150 in the North. This clearly indicates the success rate of the company. Channel managers, working out of every Gemini office, are responsible for business done through channel partners. Such an arrangement also takes good care to ensure the direct and the channel teams of Gemini work parallel with defined guidelines on territories. And various accolades like Cisco Premium Partner for Routers and WatchGuard’s Secure Partner bring in monetary benefits to the company.

In the end…

Gemini has been a visionary company and is amongst one of the few companies, which expanded the product portfolio in Network security, after deciding to offer firewall solutions. Further, the best way to tap the market is to continuously train and update the staff. And, this is how Gemini, which now has presence in around 50 locations all over India, plans to expand its footprints to 40 more locations. Trying to create its own space amongst the bigger players like HCL, Wipro, Tulip, TCS, Data Craft, etc. is worth appreciation. This is not all. Gemini further plans to enter some overseas markets also in the coming years.