Distributor Nimans has closed down its network services division, which was formed to safeguard revenue streams following the termination of its networking relationship with BT (CRN, 15 May).
Nimans Connect was re-launched earlier this year, selling offerings from ISP Griffin Internet and service provider Uniworld.
However, Julian Niman, chairman of Nimans, said: “It has been decided we are going to concentrate our efforts on other core areas of activity and look for new opportunities to maintain our progression and sustained growth. Nimans Connect in its present format is no longer viable because of changing market conditions.”
Niman added that the distributor is still keen to maintain its relationships with Griffin Internet and Uniworld.
Andrew Dickinson, sales and marketing director at Griffin, said: “We maintain a strong working relationship with Nimans, which is still working on the networking side, but on a bespoke basis for customers. Nimans found that we needed to be involved more than it thought. The model it had in place did not work.”
Tony McKenzie, sales manager of the networking division at rival Mayflex, said: “This move by Nimans is part of a trend we are seeing across the industry. Nimans is seen as a voice player. It has dipped its toes into data and found it difficult.”
McKenzie added that Mayflex is due to launch ‘Mayflex Assist’, which allows the distributor to offer bespoke maintenance and support for WAN and LAN infrastructures, with advanced service support.
Jim Harvey, networking divisional manager at distributor Arc Technology, said: “We have come from the data side and successfully moved into voice. Perhaps it is more difficult for voice players such as Nimans to move into data, which is a good sign for us.”
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