BT targets SMEs

BT, which is increasingly moving into the IT services space, bought Basilica Computing in August. Both companies will help it target the SME market, BT claims, says ZDNet.

Chesterfield-based Lynx has been around since 1973 and has more than 500 employees. It is also a "gold partner" to Microsoft, Cisco, Symantec and SurfControl, as well as an HP business partner.

"Lynx Technology is a very impressive IT services business, with a proven track record of understanding and meeting the needs of SMEs," said Bill Murphy, MD of BT Business.

Virtualisation vendor VMware is hoping to shake off its enterprise image and push its technology into the SME market in Europe, mirroring a move it made in the US recently, reports Channel Insider.

The vendor will use the entry-level version of its software suite to entice smaller businesses in Europe and is recruiting solution providers to help drive sales.

Matt Piercy, director of VMware`s partner organisation for Northern EMEA, said the vendor would not change or reduce the functionality of its product suites, but that its flagship suite - VI3 (Virtual Infrastructure 3) - already has three elements: entry level, standard and enterprise, and the entry-level software would be at the right price point for SMEs.

Hammer has signed a UK distribution agreement with vendor PivotStor for its SME archive and backup product range, according to IT Week.

The partnership is part of Hammer`s plan to increase its resellers` product choice and develop strong vendor relationships.

James Ward, MD of Hammer, said: "It was a partnership that Hammer was eager to make because PivotStor has recently gained the right to sell BDT products. BDT was not selling in the channel, but has a strong storage range."