BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) and Tech Data Corp.
announced an agreement that enables Tech Data to distribute BlackBerry
devices, software and technical support services to its channel of more
than 60,000 value-added resellers in the United States. The agreement
also allows Tech Data to support the end-to-end sale of BlackBerry
solutions for small to medium-size businesses (SMBs) through Tech
Data's TDMobility offering operated by ActivateIT, a Tech Data and
Brightstar Corp. joint venture company.
Tech Data's reseller customers can offer BlackBerry software,
technical support and other services to their clients starting this
week. BlackBerry device distribution and activation are also offered
through TDMobility for select partners, with general availability
planned for later this year, the company said.
"RIM is a strategic vendor partner for our launch of TDMobility into
the channel, and ActivateIT is key to making the complete solution
possible," said Joe Quaglia, senior vice president of U.S. marketing at
Tech Data. "We formed a strategic alliance with Brightstar to enable
just this kind of offering and we're excited to offer our reseller
customers the opportunity to increase their footprint in the channel by
making complete, end-to-end BlackBerry solutions more easily available."
Quaglia said Tech Data's existing operations allow TDMobility to
simplify the mobility transaction for resellers, while providing access
to mobile devices, a streamlined activation process with mobile
carriers, and a flexible commission structure. Completing the solution,
TDMobility enables resellers to create a recurring revenue stream by
taking advantage of ActivateIT's Cell Manage platform to help resellers
simplify their customers' deployments by offering consolidated billing.
"This agreement opens up new channels for BlackBerry solutions
targeted at small to mid-sized businesses in the U.S.," said Derek
Peper, vice president of enterprise sales and strategic partnerships at
RIM. "RIM is also pleased to support the innovative TDMobility offering
through this new relationship with Tech Data - an offering that
supports the end-to-end sale of BlackBerry solutions, from devices and
software through to training and technical support. This is a great win
for RIM, Tech Data, Brightstar, the reseller community, our carrier
partners and, most importantly, our business customers."
Computer Networking 
