Technology Reseller - v16

01732 759725 NEWS : DISTRIBUTORS 06 Tech Data expands Channel Academy Nimans expands offering with NEC collaboration solution Nimans has launched an awareness campaign to alert resellers that it is now accredited to supply NEC’s UNIVERGE 3C complete unified comms and collaboration platform and has a team in place to help resellers make the most of opportunities in integrated communications. Operating across on-premise, cloud or hybrid environments, this single software application platform delivers fully functional IP-PBX features, a complete set of voice features, sophisticated unified communications and seamless collaboration applications. Nimans Head of Solutions John McKindland said: “It’s the next step in the evolution of telecoms platforms, a sophisticated and unified product solution that represents a significant step forward for our NEC reseller base. UNIVERGE 3C’s mobility solutions enable workers to stay connected and productive from any location. It ensures anywhere, anytime access for increased efficiency and productivity and supports call control and UC features for mobile and remote workers.” www.nimans.net Also new from Nimans are: n The Jabra Engage 50 , a professional digital corded headset designed for noisy environments, is now available from Nimans. Jason Welsh, UC Devices Business Manager, said: “With technology to help contact centres overcome noise and interruptions, the Jabra Engage 50 delivers a superior digital call experience with three-microphone technology, stereo sound and super wideband. It’s an intelligent headset for an enhanced customer experience.” Software applications provide additional value through the delivery of live, on-screen guidance to agents (Jabra Direct) and rich call analytics (Xpress). n The VigorSwitch V1281 AV switch from Draytek, which Nimans demonstrated at an open day at its Manchester HQ Trade Counter. The VigorSwitch V1281 is designed to distribute IP video from computers, cameras and satellite set-top boxes over Ethernet in offices, pubs, hotels, shops and restaurants. Judith Addison, Nimans Business Manager (Networking), said: “DrayTek’s latest technology provides a major advantage for AV and comms installers. An HDMI cable has a maximum run of 15-20 metres before the signal degrades, but Cat5e/6 Ethernet cable can run well over 100 metres. In addition, it’s lower cost, easy to terminate, has a smaller diameter and may already be installed on-site.” Westcon invests in Extreme growth strategy Westcon, the Extreme Networks Global Distributor of the Year, is investing in additional sales, training, technical, finance and marketing resources as it seeks to to recruit and develop partners to capitalise on a >$3m growth opportunity with the company. As part of its Time to Change strategy, Westcon will work directly with partners to fast-track their Extreme Networks engagement, on-boarding and revenue generation. Danny Penny, Westcon’s Extreme Networks Vendor Manager, said: “We’ve worked with Extreme for over two decades and have never seen such an appetite in the channel for a responsive, innovative and partnership-driven end-to-end infrastructure vendor. This year, we have grown every quarter and outperformed our recruitment of Mobiliser and Authorised partners. With Westcon driving partners’ enablement, business building and support capabilities, switching to Extreme Networks has never been simpler or so risk-free.” www.westconcomstor.com Stephen Ennis Spectrami opens UK office Spectrami, a Dubai-based distributor of emerging technologies, has set up an independent office in the UK as it extends its successful Vendor Extension Model (VEM) to Western Europe. Sean Fane, Managing Director of Spectrami UK, said: “Traditional sales models for products and services are becoming obsolete. At Spectrami UK, our aim is to provide the intimate relationship and support both resellers and vendors need: curating technology offerings that resellers can provide to their customers and helping vendors extend their presence into new markets.” To find out more, read our feature on page 33. www.spectrami.co.uk Tech Data in continuing to enhance its Channel Academy sales training platform with new features, resources and content, including channel sales training courses and educational materials from managed services automation specialist BitTitan. Channel Academy is a free and easily accessible online learning platform, featuring an extensive range of interactive e-learning modules, sales enablement tools and bite-sized training modules from leading vendors including HPE, Aruba, Microsoft, Veritas and Intel. Recent enhancements include a streamlined registration process and new gamification features to encourage participation and competition between team members. Every month, Tech Data adds new material to the platform, including, most recently, new resources from managed services automation specialist BitTitan explaining how to migrate customers to Microsoft Office 365, Azure and other Microsoft cloud solutions. Stephen Ennis, Director of Tech Data Academy, Europe, said: “The training content on BitTitan’s MigrationWiz tool will enable our partners to gain the specialist knowledge they need to guide their customers to successful Microsoft cloud migrations. In addition, this content will help partners to develop new managed services revenue opportunities around cloud migration.” To help partners make the most of these opportunities, Tech Data provides a team of cloud migration experts and a dedicated Centre of Excellence for sales and technical assistance. www.techdata.co.uk Danny Penny