Can Google Give VARs the Love They Need?
By Jessica Davis | Posted 2007-07-02

Ingram Micro is selling Google's search appliance, but at least one analyst questions the search giant's channel savvy.
In a marriage of the technology stars, last week Google and Ingram Micro announced a deal where the world's largest IT distributor would offer search appliances from the world's largest search company.The move is intended to give Google an inroads into the small and medium business market (SMB) as the company has reached a penetration mark of 9,000 enterprise customers on the large side of the market already.
But while the deal offers a "cool" factor at the outset that is likely to win over many a VAR, at least one analyst is questioning whether these two companies can adequately serve the needs of the channel over the long term.
"The way distribution works is that everything they do must be very efficient, so there are limitations on what distribution can provide here," he said. And because of that the "cool" factor that initially wins VARs over to selling the search appliance may wear very thin after a while.
And while Google may be unique in offering an appliance-based search, other vendors that already have a channel program may reap the ultimate rewards of the SMB demand for search capabilities. For example, Microsoft offers search capabilities with its SharePoint technology, Bibby said. In addition, there are other, smaller specialist search vendors that could win the business of some VARs.
"Google is basically outsourcing its partner program," said Bibby. "Maybe this relationship with Ingram Micro will teach them some things about the channel."
What Partners Need to Know About HP, ...
In the channel, HP, Inc. is a storied vendor that has relationships...Watch Now