In an effort to address the growing connectivity needs of local PC users, 3Com SA has announced it will be offering the added value of pre-installed 3Com Network Interface Cards (NICs) and internal modems in most locally assembled PCs, with the launch of its local 3Com Connected Programme.
According to 3Com SA`s channel manager, Dirk Bosmans, an increasing number of small and medium sized businesses, as well as home users, are seeing networking and the Internet as an integral part of their overall IT requirements.
"The trend in the local market has always been that NICs and modems were sold as after sale peripherals," he says. "3Com aims to be the primary NIC and modem vendor in South Africa as well as for the sub-saharan region by ensuring that these products will now be sold within PCs, eliminating the hassle of installing the products for end users."
BMI`s recent PC Market Tracker results show that local PC assemblers are selling 70% of PCs sold in South Africa. "Due to the strength of the local PC assembler market share, this 3Com Connected Programme is especially relevant for South Africa," says Bosmans.
3Com has embarked on a nationwide drive to establish which indirect OEMs will qualify to be appointed as 3Com PC Assembler Partners and has already identified fifteen local PC assemblers who will be included in the programme.
"The local assemblers that are appointed 3Com PC Assembler Partners, will be required to meet certain sales and volume targets specified by 3Com," says Bosmans. "3Com will also evaluate the quality of their individual product lines as well as service, support and warranty policies of each indirect OEM."
The local indirect OEMs will be purchasing the products either from LAN Design or Datatec, 3Com`s authorised distributors.
"A key advantage for end users is that the NICs and modems will be tested beforehand for interoperabiity with the PCs that they are to be installed into," adds Bosmans. "Any problem encountered with individual PC models can therefore be identified before the products hit the market and 3Com can then reconfigure the products specifically for the PCs being assembled."
3Com will be branding the PCs that have its products installed, with its 3Com Connected logo which end users will be able to purchase from retailers nation wide from the end of next month.
"This is an advantage for the indirect OEMs, since value will be added to their PCs through the visible association with 3Com, which has the lions share of the worldwide market for NICs and modems," he concludes.
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people in more ways to information than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com `More connected`. For further information, visit 3Com`s World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
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