Iomega signs First Distribution

Issued by Phoenix Software for Phoenix Distribution
Johannesburg, 13 Jun 2012

Data protection solutions vendor, Iomega, which is part of storage giant, EMC, has strengthened its small and medium business presence in South Africa by striking a deal with First Distribution. Iomega's latest channel partnership will ensure its B2B products and solutions are readily available to system integrators, the surveillance SME market, SME resellers and VARs in South Africa.

“We are focusing on the SME channel, which is incorporated as part of a wider plan to support the SME market, and at the same time support the SME business-to-business distribution structure,” explained Cizar Abu Ghazaleh, regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Iomega.

“With First Distribution on board, we are fulfilling another part of our B2B formula. First Distribution has been chosen because of its strength and reach in different channel segments, whether it be system integrators, resellers or corporate resellers. We are confident First Distribution will be an important addition to our existing distribution partners in a region where there is much room for growth."

Rohan de Beer, EMC Brand Manager at First Distribution, said First Distribution's initiatives towards being a strong broad-based distributor and its drive to grow its 'value business' in South African markets had been instrumental in this distribution deal with Iomega. “We are confident that together [with Iomega] we will make this relationship fruitful for both companies. This association will assist us in providing world-class network storage products through our strong and loyal partner base,” he stated.

“Our partnership with Iomega is another step to fuel our strategic approach of having world-class brands in our portfolio and offer the best-in-class-products to our growing partner community,” he added.

Iomega will also be partnering with Phoenix Software for distribution into the consumer and retail segments of the market.

“We pride ourselves in only offering the best products, and Iomega offers the latest, and best, technology in storage solutions. Our experience in the market, together with our longstanding relationships with the premier retailers in South Africa, was instrumental in this agreement. We are confident that this partnership will provide great opportunities for all parties involved, and are looking forward to growing the brand in the local consumer market,” says Simon Campbell-Young, CEO of Phoenix Software.

Phoenix Software

Phoenix Software, a division of the Phoenix Distribution group of businesses, is a focused software publishing and distribution business that is one of the leading suppliers of consumer-related IT software products through mass retail in sub-Saharan Africa. The company has a focused retail division, covering all major and mid-tier retail outlets across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a focused small enterprise, SME and large-scale enterprise software division. In addition, Phoenix Software is a specialist volume licensing distributor and OEM partner for numerous vendors, creating bespoke software and accessory bundling for value-added promotions across the retail and business-to-business landscape.

Having recently celebrated its 10th year in business, the company has established itself as the industry partner of choice, with a wide range of products boasting a diversity of categories. Services offered include volume licensing on all leading brands, educational discounts, and retail distribution. Phoenix Software manages all services that assist customers with supply, namely in-bound and out-bound logistics, merchandising, training, marketing, publishing, key account management and market trends.

Phoenix Software's product range includes titles from leading vendors such as AVG, Ability, ArcSoft, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Exspect, Individual Software, ISLight, Kaspersky lab, Magix, Nero, Navigon, Pinnacle Systems, Propalms, Oregon Scientific, Roxio, UniBlue, Lavasoft, Sony Creative Software, TuneupUtilities, PineApp, Parallels, Rebit, NCH, Zemana, Zoner, StorageCraft and Large Software.

The Phoenix Distribution group has a global footprint, with strategic partnerships in the USA, Germany, France and Singapore. Phoenix Software is represented in the UK and Europe via a wholly -owned subsidiary, PX Software (PTY) Ltd, and has branches in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Phoenix Distribution is 50.5% owned by First Technology Holdings, the largest privately owned IT company in Africa.

For more information, visit www.phoenixsoftware.co.za.

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Iomega signs First Distribution

Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE: EMC) and a leading innovator in digital storage and content management solutions, announces signing First Distribution as an in-country B2B distributor in South Africa.