ZyXEL puts educational sales on the curriculum

Networking vendor ZyXEL Communications is urging its channel partners to cash in on growing opportunities in the education sector after formalising its Education Partner Programme.

Any ZyXEL reseller selling into the education sector qualifies for ZyXEL’s ZyAssure Advanced Next Business Day Product Replacement at no charge and receives five per cent off the list price. VARs that are members of ZyXEL’s partner programme can qualify for an additional two per cent rebate.

The programme comes as a response to partner feedback and the continued pressure placed upon schools and colleges to integrate IT in curricular activities, according to the vendor.

Partners that are accredited with educational technology agency Becta can also take advantage of the vendor’s Education Elite programme, which allows them access to ZyXEL’s partner portal and offers additional sales and marketing support.

Steve Lloyd, education sales manager at ZyXEL, said: “Business for ZyXEL has been increasing in the public sector, especially in education, so it wanted to ensure its partners had everything they needed.”

Neil Patmore, chief technical officer at ZyXEL distributor C-MI Labs, claimed ZyXEL’s http and spam products suited the education sector because they manage web traffic.

“Schools are concerned with what children are downloading and ZyXEL’s products monitor harmful content,” he said.

“Schools are on a tight budget and, unlike businesses, they do not invest in IT to make money.”