Symantec Corp, the world leader in Internet security, today announced that Sahara Computers, a leading IT distributor of computer hardware and PC manufacturer for the African market, has been appointed as an OEM distributor for its Internet security and problem-solving products.
Under the terms of the agreement, which is effective immediately, Sahara Computers will install Symantec consumer products, including Norton SystemWorks 2003 and Norton Internet Security 2003 - a suite that integrates Norton AntiVirus 2003, Norton Personal Firewall 2003 and other valuable protection tools - onto its own-brand notebooks and PCs.
"Every Sahara machine will be delivered with Symantec software installed on it, adding significant value for Sahara's customers and extending Symantec's market penetration further throughout Africa," says Patrick Evans, Symantec's regional manager for Africa.
Atul Gupta, managing director of Sahara Computers, says the agreement strengthens the company's desktop offering by providing vital and valuable additional security solutions to its customers.
"With the security risks that threaten any computer connected to the Internet, having the best protection available is almost as important as having an operating system. By partnering with Symantec, we are able to bring our customers quality products combined with the best in security software, for a complete computing package," he says.
Evans says Sahara Computers was identified as an OEM partner of choice owing to its considerable market penetration in SA and into many other African countries. "With the conclusion of this agreement with Sahara Computers, we are able to extend the reach and protection of our products to its customers," he says.
As a result of recent strategic OEM agreements, Symantec security solutions are expected to ship on or with nearly 36 million PCs and Internet products from leading hi-tech manufacturers this year.
Under terms of multiple OEM agreements, a variety of Symantec products including Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security are pre-installed or bundled with solutions from top PC, broadband and home networking manufacturers worldwide.
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Sahara Computers locally assembles and markets the Sahara-branded PC via the reseller channel, and with its best of breed components, was the winner of CRN SA's Outlook 2002 "Components Distributor of the Year Award". Sahara has branches in Midrand (head office), Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, with partners throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Sahara is the official distributor for a variety of international vendors including: Asus, Samsung, Creative, AMD, Microsoft, SMC Networks, Lexmark, Epson and Delta.
Symantec
Symantec, the world leader in Internet security technology, provides a broad range of content and network security software and appliance solutions to individuals, enterprises and service providers. The company is a leading provider of client, gateway and server security solutions for virus protection, firewall and virtual private network, vulnerability management, intrusion detection, Internet content and e-mail filtering, remote management technologies and security services to enterprises and service providers around the world.
Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products is a leader in worldwide retail sales and industry awards. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Symantec has worldwide operations in 36 countries. For more information, please visit www.symantec.com.
If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please view the Symantec Press Centre at http://www.symantec.com/PressCenter/ on Symantec's Web site. All prices noted are in US dollars and are valid only in the US.
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