Upgrade signs with Gigabyte

Expansion plans continue with distribution agreement

Upgrade Options' distribution arm is continuing its aggressive expansion plans with the signing of a distribution agreement with server specialist Gigabyte.

Upgrade Distribution, the firm's trade division, already partners with such vendors as Kingston, Samsung and Amacom Technology in the UK. It beat stiff competition to win the serverboard and rackmount server portfolio with Gigabyte.

Bill Key, sales and marketing director at Upgrade Options, said: "The Gigabyte servers are high-quality, but such offerings struggle at most broadline distributors because of the pressure to box-shift rather than offer the services that smaller firms such as Upgrade can provide."

Glenn Morrison, managing director of Upgrade Options, said: "Expanding at a time when most others are contracting creates opportunities for bigger market share. We have kept our powder dry for just such an opportunity and we are prepared to take the lead in our field."

Steven Kay, server network manager at Gigabyte, said: "We have developed a close working relationship with Upgrade. This provides a strong platform to develop our UK server business."