Window Update-block for no-registered users?
After taking legal action against a number of US and UK resellers for allegedly handling pirated copies of its software, Microsoft has changed tactics and is planning to block non-registered users of Windows from downloading updates from this summer.
Building on a trial program currently being tested in the Czech and Norwegian markets, Microsoft says that European customers wanting to download updates will, from this summer onwards, have to have registered their copy of Windows.
This was always on the cards, ever since Windows XP tried to steer users into registering their software. The cracked copies of Windows XP being openly sold on the Internet, however, have the registration system disabled - apart from the checksum routine for validating a serial number.
The slightly good news is that Microsoft says that security updates will still be allowed, even to those users of obviously pirated software.
This appears to be an olive branch to consumer and small business users, for whom software updates are not as important as security updates.
You can bet your bottom dollar, however, that Microsoft will come up with a discount program this spring, allowing unauthorised European users of its software to go legal.
Acal to handle Bridgeworks' storage across Europe
Bridgeworks has signed a distribution deal with Acal that will see Bridgeworks' range of storage products offered to companies across Europe. Acal says that it will offer Bridgeworks' products to its networks of more than 400 systems integrators and resellers, many of whom specialise in the small to mid-sized company sector that Bridgework's data transfer systems are aimed at.
Bridgeworks, which claims to be Europe's only manufacturer of iSCSI and Fibre Channel bridges, says the distribution deal forms the corner-stone of its European growth plans.
Andrew Litherland, Acals's EMEA-director, said that, in times of tightened IT budgets throughout Europe, the Bridgeworks deal is important for his firm's network of resellers and integrators. 'It enables them to build and deliver more cost-effective business continuity and disaster recovery solutions for their customers.'
David Trossell, Bridgeworks' CEO, said that he is confident
that that the products will delight Acal's integrators and resellers. 'By extending our product range in due course, we will ensure they always have leading edge iSCSI products in the portfolio,' he said, adding that, as IP storage area networks continue to assume greater
importance, the distribution arrangement represents a good opportunity for everyone involved in the value chain.
Online licensing enhanced says C2000
Computer 2000 (the UK distribution of Tech Data) says that resellers have been flocking to its online software licensing system. So much so, in fact that, that the distributor has enhanced its service. Alongside with highlighting of special promotions and offers, C2000 says that the service now includes detailed online technical data sheets, as well as the ability to ship physical products to third-party mailing addresses.
Announcing this enhancements, Richard Hales, C2000's general software manager, said they improve the user experience, as well as help resellers improve their own levels of customer service. 'The improvements make the system even easier to use and ensure that, when it comes to building software quotations and placing orders online, the service, remains the first choice for resellers,' he said. According to Hales, C2000 has several other enhancements in the pipeline for its online licensing service. 'We will soon be launching exciting additional functionality and adding more vendors, making an even more compelling case to make Licensing OnLine a reseller one stop shop for all their software licenses.'
Over the last 12 months, the distributor reports that the number of its resellers using the service has doubled, making its the most popular and widely used service of its type in the industry. Since its initial launch in February 2000, the service now generates around 60 per cent of C2000's software revenu. C2000 says that seven major software vendors - Adobe, IBM, McAfee, Microsoft, Novell, Symantec, Veritas - now have electronic document interchange connections with the service to ensure that orders are processed accurately and as quickly as possible.
CA get ESP
Computer Associates has dramatically boosted its Enterprise Solution Provider (ESP) scheme for resellers, giving them access to round-the-clock technical support plus free training and sales leads from a dedicated ESP team.
The ESP scheme was launched late last year in the US, and is now being rolled out to UK and European resellers.
As you might expect from such a high-powered program, CA is looking for high-end dealers who are prepared to work with the company in developing business plans and marketing programs.
In return, the IT vendor is offering access to a range of what it calls in-country partner advocate managers, whose sole job is to liaise with resellers on finding new customers, as well as generating extra revenues from existing clients.
In the US, ESP-accredited resellers are being offered access to what CA calls its value-added distributor network, whereby the distributor offers much higher levels of support than normal. The US program looks quite interesting, but there's no word on when - and if - this distribution program will be rolled out in Europe.
I suspect that the smaller country markets in Europe may preclude the creation of value-added distributors, but we can but live in hope.
Northamber to distribute ZyXEL in UK
Northamber has signed a deal with ZyXEL Communications to sell the firm's broadband range of products to UK resellers.
The move is interesting as ZyXEL has, over the last few years, turned itself from being a generic digital and analogue modem supplier into a key supplier of xDSL, firewall, wireless, routing and IP switching products.
The deal is a major one for ZyXEL, as the distributor is billed as the largest UK-owned trade-only company in the IT sales chain. In preparation for the distribution, ZyXEL quietly opened a UK office in November last year.
Brent Whiley, ZyXEL's channel sales manager, said that there is a real and growing demand for xDSL products, especially in the mailorder and e-tail market-places. According to Whiley, by talking a pure channel-based approach, ZyXEL
is looking to boost its market share, as well as customer awareness of its brand. In the longer term, Whiley said he is looking to sign up with other distributors in the UK.
Finjan signs Wick Hill for pan-European distribution
Wick Hill has been signed up to distribute Finjan Software's 1Box content security system for small-to-mid-sized businesses across Europe.
Finjan, which originally cast itself as shrink-wrapped IT security software vendor during the 1990s, started moving up-market a few years ago. Wick Hill, meanwhile, has been carving out a sizeable niche for itself as a value-added distributor, both in the UK and German sales channel.
Finjan's 1Box series are a range of products that provide security for SMEs on the Web, email and document transfer side of things. Built into the 1Box offerings are Finjan's best-of-breed anti-virus, URL filtering and anti-spam engines, all of which are integrated into the same appliance. Bernie Dodwell, Wick Hill's director of business development, said he is delighted to have been chosen by Finjan to lead the company's European push. 'The 1Box series addresses all the security management issues faced by SMEs and at a very attractive price. Our goal is to recruit 50 VAR's in key markets over the next six months.'.
Acal Storage Networking, +44-1252-868080, www.acalsn.com;
Bridgeworks, +44-870-1210708, www.4bridgeworks.com;
Computer 2000 UK, +44-870-4010505, www.computer2000.co.uk;
Computer Associates, http://ca.com/partners/esp;
ZyXEL Communications, +44-870-2909090, www.zyxel.co.uk;
Wick Hill, +44-1483227600, www.wickhill.co.uk
Steve Gold (sg@mail.com)