Reseller Channel Playing A Key Role

31 May 2005

Intel Reseller Channel Playing A Key Role In Helping Bridge Asia’s Digital Divide

Intel Corporation vice president and general manager of the Channel Platforms Group, William Siu today outlined Intel’s strategy and vision for channel growth in 2005 at the Asia Pacific Intel Solutions Summit 2005 in Ho Chi Minh City. During the Summit, Siu emphasised the importance of innovative business models, platforms and solutions and explained that the channel has a significant business opportunity and key role to play in improving technology availability, access and affordability, particularly in Asia Pacific emerging markets.

The formation of Intel’s Channel Platforms Group brought together existing channel organisations into one organisation worldwide and added new capabilities that focus on platform definition for emerging markets. As a result, Intel is now more effectively positioned to develop and sell products and solutions that satisfy the unique requirements of local markets, and deploy marketing programmes that meet the end-to-end needs of channel members worldwide.

“Intel has a long term, holistic commitment to improving emerging markets’ technology availability, access and affordability,” said Siu. “With support from our reseller channel, we are helping these markets achieve sustainable economic growth via programmes that help build out communications infrastructure, accelerate PC adoption and computer literacy and foster a pool of local talent.” Intel’s emerging market initiatives worldwide span e-government, e-business, healthcare, digital cities, provinces and villages, programmes to accelerate the deployment of broadband and wireless technologies such as WiMAX, and Intel® Innovation in Education programmes such as Intel® Teach to The Future.

“Intel will continue to invest in and develop the local IT industry and distribution channel in countries across Asia Pacific by expanding our presence in locations such as South East Asia, educating channel members how to integrate and build computers, and helping to educate distributors, consumers, governments and business on the benefits of technology.”

Platforms offer new opportunities Intel provides a real business advantage to help its channel programme members stay competitive by offering technical and sales training, enhanced warranty replacement and technical support, funding for marketing programmes, merchandising and collateral and a dedicated web site with detailed product and programme information. Intel is now helping to expand opportunities for the channel further by focusing its development, research and marketing efforts at the platform level, developing platforms to meet the specific needs of local citizens and businesses.

A ‘platform’ is a collection of technologies – both silicon and software – that when used together provides greater benefit to the end user. Intel is extending this platform approach across a number of areas including the digital home, mobility, the enterprise and other segments and across worldwide markets. Part of the platform development process includes research into technology usage patterns of people around the world by a team of Intel ethnographers. Intel uses the insights gained from this type of in-depth, ethnographic research to create localised solutions that respond to specific user requirements.

“The China Learning PC, our new manageability platform featuring Intel Platform Administration Technology for i-Cafés and small and medium businesses, and our notebook platform reference design for university students codenamed Tanggula are all examples of our continuing efforts to deliver differentiated platform solutions that bring greater value to end users and provide a competitive advantage for the channel,” said Siu.

Intel Solutions Summit The Intel Solutions Summit is Intel’s annual conference for Intel Premier Providers, Intel’s top resellers and solutions providers who have qualified for membership by demonstrating a commitment to leadership and technical expertise in desktop, server, mobile or wireless solutions.

The Summit provides Intel Premier Providers the opportunity to gain a comprehensive insight into Intel’s channel strategies and vision. During the Summit, Intel shares its expertise, and equips resellers with the ideal tools and resources to develop and grow their business via keynote speeches from Intel executives and a comprehensive range of training sessions, among other activities.

This year’s conference marks the 10th anniversary of Intel’s reseller channel programme and brings together Intel’s senior channel executives and leading Asia Pacific resellers to address Intel’s channel strategy in Asia Pacific. Over the past decade, Intel’s reseller organisation has grown from 200 members to a sophisticated network of approximately 160,000 members.

With more than 1,000 distributor locations in 112 countries, Intel doubled its coverage of emerging market cities in 2004 to 1,274, opening new offices around the globe, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom

ENDS

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