Dell embraces VARs

Hoping to attract resellers, computer-maker Dell recently crashed a channel partner event held by rival Hewlett-Packard, states CNNMoney.com.

The move showed how aggressive Dell is being with its reseller initiative. Dell, which until mid-2007 focused on direct sales to customers, now hopes to expand its sales by using local and regional value-added resellers, or VARs.

Dell's appearance at HP's HPQ Americas Partner Conference, in Las Vegas, was timed with Dell's new "Partners Wanted" ad campaign. Dell distributed marketing materials to about 800 HP partners before the venue's security staff threw them out.

Xerox Middle East and Africa was recognised as the leading printing and consumables vendor of the year at the Channel Middle East 2008 awards ceremony held in Dubai last week, reports Al Bawaba.

Other contenders to this award included HP, Lexmark, Epson, OKI and Brother.

Over 300 senior management delegates from leading IT vendors and the regional channel network attended the evening.

Australian distributor, Open Channel Solutions (OCS), will distribute Aladdin eToken solutions to Australian resellers, says CRN Australia.

Aladdin's two-factor authentication products enhance resellers' existing authentication security and data management offerings, claimed the vendor.

Sydney-based OCS supplies products and technologies ranging from backup and restore solutions, data management/migration and remote access offerings to anti-virus/anti-spam protection.