Distributor Hugh Symons has claimed its relationship with voice over IP (VoIP) vendor AYC Telecom will continue, despite having launched its own VoIP offering.

Last year AYC rocked its channel when it picked Hugh Symons as its sole UK distributor, ending deals with UK distributors Vcomm, Telappliant and Spot Distribution. But Hugh Symons has now launched SIPtrix, an IP PBX that can provide VoIP services to the distributor’s reseller base.

Marios Ktisti, strategic product manager at Hugh Symons Telecom, insisted that the distributor will continue to work with AYC.

“We have a fine relationship with AYC, but we have launched our own offering [SIPtrix], and that is what we are focused on now,” Ktisti said.

Ktisti added that SIPtrix is a convergence offering and will improve resellers’ opportunities in VoIP.

Paul Howard, chief executive of AYC, said: “Hugh Symons is still selling our product. Its focus may have changed, and it is marketing mainly at the mobility market, rather than the PBX arena.”

Howard added that AYC still has an agreement with Surrey-based distributor MyPhoneCall, which the vendor signed several months ago.

Scott Dobson, managing director of Vcomm, said: “AYC seems to be diminishing into smaller markets. It’s a shame, because conceptually AYC was right on the button.”

trevor_treharne@vnu.co.uk