Datrontech builds up alliances

Distribution Joint venture set up with three partners to entice products from outside the European market.

Datrontech subsidiary Portable Add-ons has struck a deal with threeducts from outside the European market. other distributors to form a pan-European outfit aimed at attracting US and Asian hardware and software manufacturers that want to break into Europe.

The three other distributors in the venture, called Mobile Partners International (MPI), are AB Soft in France, RFI Elektronik in Germany and Santa Barbara in Spain. The alliance is also intended to give manufacturers with a European presence the ability to create a channel focused specifically on the mobile computing market.

According to Nigel Parry, managing director of Portable Add-ons, each distributor has a 25 per cent share in the venture. He said combined revenue should represent more than $130 million for the 1997-1998 financial year.

He added that the venture had a total database of more than 50,000 resellers and the partnership intends to sign additionalEuropean distributors. 'The broad geographic coverage will mean that manufacturers can quickly establish a marketing presence by developing Vars in partnership with the group,' Parry said.

He added that the company had already created a catalogue of peripherals for handheld computers running the Windows CE operating system. 'MPI represents a pan-European distribution channel for mobile computer products including PCMCIA, peripherals for notebooks and Windows CE palmtops, notebooks and GSM technology,' he commented.

Portable Add-ons has introduced the Airline-Car Power Adapter, which can power a notebook in a car or aeroplane.