Computers Unlimited gets Exposed in France
France : Mac specialist Computers Unlimited has exported for the first time its British event « Computers Unlimited Exposed » to French market. The event has welcomed 27 exhibitors and about 100 visitors, compared to 40 exhibitors and 200 resellers in the UK : a real success for a first edition, according to its VP Gabriel Attard. No CU Exposed event is yet planned in Spain, because of the relatively smaller sized of the market. Among others, the distributor has used the event to present newly-signed partnerships, either in France or also through its offices in Spain and the United Kingdom. It has thus started the distribution of Mac notebook docking stations from American vendor Henge Docks (an exclusivity for the whole Europe) as well as wireless speakers from Danish vendor Libratone (for all three offices). It has also signed a partnership with American vendor Etymotic to distribute its customized earphones. Etymotic, which also works with Dectel in Belgium and Macland and Germany, has built up a network of several hundreds of audiologists in Europe to provide personalized earmolds to its end users, in exchange for a price premium of about 20% on its products, compared to non-customized competitors. Computers Unlimited has also started to push Dymo printers through its Mac reseller network through its three offices. It is also distributing the boomboxes from TDK in France only. Also available through its three offices are the iPad supports from Vogel’s, notebook cases and accessories from Twelve South or Opt Gear and wireless video adapters from American vendor Veebeam (which also works in Europe through Amazon, and is looking for more distributors in other European countries). Also present on the last edition of its catalogue, albeit absent from the show, mobility accessories from Agent 18, Astom, Be.Ez, Easiskins, Eye-Fi, More, Scosche, STM, Tigra, Unison or Urbanz, cabling from Kanex, GPS from Navigon or networking products from Sena. One may note also that Computers Unlimited has stopped the distribution of DLO, e-on, Freecom, Gear4, Hive, Honest, MovieSoft, Tech21 and Vestalife.
Midwich strengthens its partnership with Panasonic
United Kingdom : AV broadliner Midwich has extended its distribution deal with Panasonic to take on the company’s complete portfolio of business and security systems. The distributor supplied until now projectors and professional displays from the Japanese vendor. With the new deal, it will now be allowed to handle Panasonic’s interactive whiteboards and surveillance systems as well as A4 multifunction printers, professional scanners and fax machines.
Tech Data reviews its organization
Germany : in order to strengthen the growth of its broad organization in the country, Tech Data has appointed Marc Müller, the former manager of Azlan, to the newly created position of sales managing director for all its activities, including broadliner and Azlan/VAD business. Michael Döll, who is director of operations, will now take over e-services, procurement, after sales management, supply chain services and IT coordination for the whole group in the country. To replace Marc Müller at the head of Azlan has been hired Ulrich Hampe, until recently country manager for Magirus. It will be interesting to see if this organization will be duplicated in other countries.
Kerpix signs with Kenko
France : digital photo specialist Kerpix has added filters and optic converters from Japanese vendor Kenko to its portfolio.
Also gets in the cloud
Switzerland : broadliner Also has launched its cloud-service website. Dubbed also-cloud.ch, it is currently used to sell Microsoft cloud products (Exchange Hosted Services, Office Live Meeting, SharePoint Online, Windows Azure, Exchange Online and Office Communications Online). All Also cloud resellers will be supported by dedicated specialists. The website should be used for other vendors, as soon as the distributor signs new partnerships around new cloud services.
Entrada classifies data with Nogacom
Germany : Israeli editor Nogacom has appointed network and security VAD Entrada as official distributor for its Nogalogic solution. Nogalogic helps security managers to identify and analyze their unstructured data – including documents containing sensitive business information – and know where it’s located, by whom it’s being accessed, and how its used and distributed across their organization. Through NogaLogic’s advanced policy management they can then centrally manage, move, share and protect their key business data throughout its lifecycle.
Z-Three signs with HTC
United Kingdom : telephony specialist Z-Three has added HTC accessories (including chargers, headsets and batteries) to its portfolio.
Sega in Realtime
United Kingdom : peripheral and PC component specialist Realtime has signed with Blaze a partnership to distribute Sega-branded portable consoles through its reseller network.
Komsa enters hospitals with Hubert Müller & Partner
Germany : telephony and mobility specialist Komsa has added the medical emergency call solution MP-Pana-Med from Hubert Müller & Partner to its portfolio. MP-Pana-Med is a certified Panasonic communications and security solution for use in hospitals and nursing facilities. The solution combines several components including a nurse call system and a management network for all emergency services. All calls are monitored by a central administration. In case of emergency, text messages are automatically sent to all connected systems. Distribution requires a two-day training.
Inside drops Oki
Spain : after 10 years of collaboration, security and POS specialist Inside Technology has decided to end its relationship with Oki, without official reason.
Micro P ventures into supply through Advent Data
United Kingdom : broadliner Micro Peripherals has strengthened its position on the supply market through the acquisition of specialized distributor Advent Data. The acquisition has been done through an initial cash payment of €11.0m, which may be followed by a further cash consideration of up to €17.5m payable based on the firm’s results over the next three years. Advent Data has two end-user oriented businesses, which Micro P is yet unsure to do with.
Rectron reshuffles management team
South Africa : broadliner Rectron has reshuffled its management team and has appointed the local distribution channel’s first woman MD. Cheslynne Britz, who effectively ran the company in conjunction with Dean Prinsloo while its CEO Mark Lu was on secondment to Gigabyte in Taiwan, is Rectron’s new MD. Prinsloo, it is believed, will be leaving the distributor (source : IT Online South Africa).
Microsoft chooses another Azlan
Sweden : as part of its VAD strategy, Microsoft has appointed network and security VAD Azlan as official distributor for its virtualization, security and unified communication offers. Azlan will also act as a training center for VARs and system integrators which are interested into selling Microsoft value-added solutions.
Nimans signs with ComSoft
United Kingdom : telecom specialist Nimans is calling out to Panasonic resellers about how they can fire-up their margins by embracing call management and call recording technology from CommSoft. CommSoft is specialized in call management, call reporting and call recording software for the telecoms industry.
Elecom closes its doors
France : after several years of slow business, broker Elecom has finally closed its doors.
Copaco invests on iPhone
Broadliner Copaco is targeting the bullish iPhone accessory market by distributing the sliding keyboard Minikey from Nuu as well as the external batteries Hyperjuice and the first hard drive for iPad Hyperdrive from Sanho Digital. All these products are available through its offices in France and Belgium.
Y-Cam chooses Extra Computer
Germany : British IP camera vendor Y-Cam has appointed broadliner Extra Computer as its official distributor for the DACH region (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
Terach witnesses networks
Network and security VAD Terach has been appointed official distributor for Netwitness real time forensic and threat intelligence solutions in both Belux and the Netherlands.
French leaves Azlan
United Kingdom : following recurring rumors, network and security VAD Azlan has confirmed the departure of its director Ian French, a bit more than one year after his arrival. Ian will remain engaged as a strategic consultant, and will now be reactivating some opportunities for Siceo, his consultancy company and driving Gapaid, a charity which he chairs. The distributor is currently looking for someone to replace him.
Diasa distributes The Logic Group
Spain : broadliner Aryan has added SmartTPV payment solution from The Logic Group to its AIDC/POS business unit offer. SmartTPV has been chosen because of its security, its flexibility, its simplicity and its compatibility with PCI DSS standard.
