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30 Oct 2008
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Distributor Micro Peripherals (Micro-P) has announced a move to give its systems builder and retailer clients entry to the booming but exclusive 3G mobile broadband market.
It has created a mobile broadband deal with operator 3, bundled with a free Samsung laptop, that its partners can sell to consumers.
The distributor will deal with the logistics, leaving resellers to sell the bundle through Micro-P’s portal and collect commission.
Further reading
An estimated 80,000 mobile broadband and laptop bundles are sold every month, according to Micro-P. This sales opportunity has been limited to an oligarchy of Carphone Warehouse, Phones4u and Dixons Store Group.
Despite the fact that laptops seem to be the deal makers in these transactions, the reseller has been cut out, said Simon Woodman, new business development director at Micro-P.
“IT retailers and system builders have missed the boat for various reasons,” said Woodman. “They do not have the relationships with the operators, they are not familiar with signing people up to contracts with clawback schemes, and retailers have been expected to give away laptops.”
However, the paucity of the deals offered to customers could let the local reseller in, he argued. “The laptops they give away come without software, and with little security support.”
Micro-P will offer its registered partners a bundle of minutes from mobile
operator 3 and a Samsung R60 laptop. Initially, consumer deals will be offered,
but by December the distributor intends to give resellers a business service to
sell too.
Included in the bundle is a free 24-month warranty on the PC, Office Ability
software and two-year anti-virus. The connectivity package includes a free
mobile broadband dongle, Nokia 3120 handset, minutes and 5GB of data per month.
It is the business user that will provide the real attraction, said Dean
McCann, manager of Wirral-based retailer Computers R Us. “The 5GB bundle will be
ideal for SMEs, especially very mobile users.
“Samsung is a good brand, and it will be tempting for clients to upgrade to a
dual-core processor machine. This helps us to compete.”
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Do you agree?
Great Opportunity !
At last we can compete with the mobile retailers ! Great package - this will be a major benefit for the channel leading up to christmas.
Posted by Paul Jones | 31 Oct 2008
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