On the technology leasing side, Tech Data has partnered with CIT Technology Financing Services and HP. CIT provides the financing administration for companies such as Microsoft and the backing for other technology companies' captive finance arms.

"CIT will finance hardware from any manufacturer, but they also finance software," says Tillesen. "This allows resellers to offer a leasing solution. In addition, CIT will do financing of managed services type contracts with end users."

HP is offering 0 percent financing on HP technology solutions. The personal computer and server giant is offering two separate zero financing deals. The first calls for the end-user company to make 12 monthly payments and at the end of the 12-month term the end-user company can purchase the equipment for $1.

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The second deal spreads the payments out over a longer term—36 months—and at the end of the lease the end-user company can purchase the equipment for fair market value.

Because it is 0 percent financing, the buyer takes the price of the equipment and divides it by 12 months or 36 months, and that is the monthly payment. The HP deal is available from Feb. 1 and is schedule to last through to April 30.

IBM Global Financing disputes that HP's 0 percent deal is any better than anything IBM Global Financing offers, saying the way IBM prices its products to include residual value ultimately gives customers a better deal, according to Dan Ransdell, general manager of Client Financing at IBM Global Financing.

For example, on a 36-month fair market value lease of $50,000, HP would require a monthly payment of $1,389, IBM says, while the payment to IBM would be $1,322, a savings of $2,408 over the life of the loan.