Channel News Briefs: Week of Sept 21

Avnet Unveils New Converged Infrastructure Offering

Avnet Technology Solutions has introduced its next generation of converged infrastructure offerings powered by the 3rd Generation Intel Core Processors called Ivy Bridge. These new offerings, featuring SAP HANA, Cisco data center technology and industry-leading storage, allow companies to store, process and analyze large data sets in real time. The converged infrastructure products are available exclusively through Avnet’s channel partners, and will initially be offered in the U.S. and Canada.

Avnet also is the exclusive provider of Cisco’s SAP HANA appliances. The IT distributor “provides partners with a simplified, fully integrated, validated, certified solution with SAP HANA software, operating system and customer information preloaded onto high-performance appliances.” This helps partners speed up their time to market while reducing risks associated with developing these capabilities in-house, said Avnet.

Tech Data Inks Deal with Kanex

Tech Data signed a new distribution agreement with Kanex, a provider of Apple and iOS connectivity solutions for homes and businesses. Under the agreement, Tech Data’s channel of solution providers will sell the Kanex products in the United States and Latin America.

As part of its Systems & Peripherals offering, Tech Data will provide Apple resellers, retailers, carrier stores, and small and midsize business (SMB) solution providers with Kanex for Apple and iOS connectivity solutions and KanexPro A/V solutions. It gives Tech Data resellers access to Kanex’s “award-winning” Thunderbolt adapters, which were introduced earlier this year, and full suite of Android products and solutions. The announcement follows Tech Data’s recent agreement to distribute Kanex products in the United Kingdom.

Ingram Micro Cloud Signs Agreement With SoftLayer

Expanding its relationship with IBM, Ingram Micro Cloud, a global division of Ingram Micro Inc., has signed a distribution agreement with SoftLayer, an IBM Company, to sell its cloud services to mutual channel partners in the United States. This gives partners a single point of contact, access to experts and support services.

Under the agreement, Ingram Micro will market, sell and support SoftLayer cloud services, and drive solutions and cross-selling opportunities within its partner community and the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. As a master Cloud Services Provider, Ingram Micro also will offer cloud on-boarding capabilities, marketing support, and end-to-end technical and operational support to its channel partners focused on building cloud solutions. 

Ingram Micro Broadens Technology Offerings, Vertical Markets

At the ONE Ingram Micro event this week in Las Vegas, Ingram Micro Inc. announced it is expanding its data capture/point-of-sale offerings, and broadening its vertical market reach into finance and retail. The global IT distributor is expanding its channel partner value-add for payments, mobility, networking, omni-channel retailing and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. This includes an expanded portfolio of vendors, services, and solutions as well as partner-enablement initiatives. These efforts will be spearheaded by Jeff Yelton, who was named the executive director and general manager of Ingram Micro’s North America data capture/POS business.

Ingram Micro also announced it is expanding its U.S. vertical market strategy to include retail and finance. These new vertical markets will be supported by a dedicated team of business, marketing, sales and technology solutions and service experts. The IT distributor also was named a Citrix Authorized Learning Center (CALC) and a global HP ExpertOne Learning Partner.