Select feels Intel's wrath

Intel has stripped reseller Select Micro Systems of its prized preferred dealer status, bestowed on a core group of the vendor's partners, following allegations of threats by the chip giant.

Intel said the only action it will take against the renegade preferred dealer Select Micro Systems (SMS) is to remove it from the Intel preferred dealer (IPD) category.

The chip giant last week declined to comment on allegations that Intel executives had threatened SMS general manager Ken Catto or any of his employees at the SMS offices in Portland, Oregon.

An Intel representative said: 'As far as the allegations of harassment are concerned, the only action that Intel has taken - or plans to take - is the removal of Ken from the IPD programme.'

Intel declined to comment on Catto's allegations that dealers had been misled over the Pentium Classic programme or over availability of the Pentium Pro.

The company also refused to comment on the removal of Catto's name from Intel's Usenet groups other than to say he had indulged in 'profanity'.