CAP will probably mark the beginning of a new and fierce stand-off between Hitachi and first-generation CAS vendors, but Hitachi seems to be aware that software will play a role at least as important as hardware in that battle.

In fact, on the same day it made its CAP move, Hitachi revealed "an ecosystem of ISV partners to deliver an integrated, best-of-breed portfolio of hardware and software components." That list of well-known names seems to be just the beginning of many partnerships to come.

I can't wait to see the CAS battle escalate. After all, increased competition is usually good news for customers.

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