Distribution giant Avnet has unveiled a scheme allowing unauthorised resellers to sell entry-level Oracle technology licences.

Fast-Track, which is offered through Avnet division Horizon Software, has been devised to help resellers offer Oracle's products to their customers without having to make up-front investments to build their Oracle practice. The plan is for the new resellers attracted through the scheme to eventually graduate into fully-fledged Oracle partners.

Entry level products on offer include: Oracle Database and Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle Application Server both Standard Edition and Standard Edition One version, Oracle Business Intelligence Standard Edition One and Oracle Weblogic Server Standard Edition.

Mickey Bharat, division director at Horizon Software said: “Our Fast-Track programme will help resellers new to Oracle to take the first simple steps in building an Oracle practice. We will help them to transact their first orders for entry level product and will encourage them to work towards building a fully accredited Oracle practice once they have seen the benefits that Oracle can bring to their business.”

Bharat added: “We are continuing to invest in our UK Oracle business. We already have a very large team supporting Oracle’s channel partners, but see the opportunity to further extend our reach deeper into the reseller community by enabling resellers without an existing Oracle relationship to leverage the credibility which Oracle technology affords to extend their solution portfolio. "

David Tweddle, director of general business at Oracle UK and Ireland, said: "I have been very impressed with the plans Horizon has made to assist us in making Oracle technology available to a wider reseller community.

"All transactions by our general business team are driven through channel partners and our overall goal is to grow the business significantly this year. The Fast-Track initiative brings a programmatic approach to make it really easy for a reseller to partner with Oracle and therefore will be a very significant contribution to our success.”