Intel Expands Asia Pacific Channel Network

Intel Expands Asia Pacific Channel Network, Outlines Opportunities For Growth At Intel Solutions Summit

Mobility, digital home convergence and enterprise refresh to drive channel growth

Intel Asia Pacific will expand its channel network to include another 100 cities across Asia Pacific and drive opportunities in the notebook, digital home and enterprise segments as part of its 2004 global channel strategy. Further details will be revealed by Sophia Chew, Intel vice president, Sales and Marketing Group and general manager, Reseller Channel Operation at the Asia Pacific Intel Solutions Summit in Sydney on 22 April.

More than 500 Intel® Premier Providers from throughout Asia Pacific are expected to attend the Asia Pacific Intel Solutions Summit, which serves as a platform to showcase trends and technologies and provides a venue for resellers and distributors to interact with Intel executives. The Asia Pacific summit is one of three conferences being hosted by Intel this year for its more than 1,500 Intel Premier Providers around the world. The other summits are being held in Las Vegas, USA and Madrid, Spain. This year Intel is introducing a new series of in-depth technical solutions training events as part of the summit.

Building on channel growth and successes in 2003, Chew said Intel will continue to enhance its channel program to help its resellers and distributors achieve their growth targets. “We see three key growth areas for the channel in 2004, namely, mobility, digital convergence and enterprise refresh. Each of these growth areas represents significant opportunity for Intel and its resellers,” said Chew.

“Demand for mobile computing will continue to rise as businesses recognise the benefits from productivity and performance gains that wireless-enabled notebooks provide. On the consumer level, people are enjoying new levels of freedom and flexibility using Intel Centrino™ mobile technology-based notebooks.

“The digital home is also a driving force that will spur growth for the industry and the channel. In the digital home, the personal computer will extend its capabilities to communicate and share content with other digital devices such as MP3 players, digital cameras, TVs, stereos and mobile phones. The digital home is not just about entertainment, but encompasses learning, personal productivity and communications,” she said. Enterprise segment growth is being driven by technology upgrades in enterprise, and government and the education sectors. As businesses realise that ageing systems cost more to run, are less secure and contribute to low productivity levels, Intel expects the enterprise sector to refresh a large volume of PCs installed three to four years ago.

“There is a huge opportunity for the channel to provide higher-performance systems needed to deal with today’s complex client computing environment, and Intel is dedicated to help and make this happen,” said Chew.

As part of its ongoing channel development program, Intel will also continue to invest in emerging markets, and educate the channel on the benefits of delivering quality computer technology to customers in these markets.

2003 marked the fifth anniversary of the Intel® Premier Provider (IPP) program, Intel’s top channel membership program for resellers and solutions providers who have qualified by demonstrating a commitment to leadership and technical expertise in desktop, server, mobile or wireless solutions. Growing at an annual rate of 40 per cent every year since its launch, the program offers enhanced branding, technical training, and support benefits to top channel customers who have demonstrated Intel platform integration and solutions expertise. There are currently more than 500 IPP members in Asia Pacific spanning 15 countries.

The Asia Pacific Intel Solutions Summit for Intel Premier Providers will be held at the Sydney Convention Centre from 22-24 April.

Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products.

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