Acer set to sign third UK server distributor
Vendor reveals ambitious plans to recruit up to 50 VARs to quadruple server market share
Acer is on the verge of appointing a third UK distributor for its server range, as the vendor looks to more than quadruple its market share in the sector.
The vendor currently works with Ingram Micro and Lynx Technology for its servers, which are aimed at SMEs with up to 500 users. Acer will also look to recruit up to 50 VARs to help it increase its server market share from less than one per cent to seven or eight per cent by 2009.
Adrian Kamperis, product marketing, commercial PC and servers at Acer, said: “We are looking to appoint another broadliner and are in discussions with distributors at the moment. We will make the appointment this quarter.”
John Roberts, Acer’s product business director, server and storage EMEA, told CRN: “The top four players – Dell, IBM, Fujitsu-Siemens and Hewlett-Packard (HP) – have about an 88 per cent share of the server market.
“If we can reach our target of seven or eight per cent it should put us in a solid third position in the UK.”
Phil McLean, server product manager at HP, said: “I can understand why Acer would want to get involved because servers are a very strong space and vendors can get involved at a high level in an organisation. However, customers are very brand loyal in the server arena so Acer would have to demonstrate credibility and convince end-users that its technology can deliver.”
Gary Fowle, marketing director at Fujitsu-Siemens, said: “It will be a huge challenge for Acer. Selling servers is very different to selling desktops and notebooks. “
Jonathan Billing, marketing communications manager at Lynx, added: “Acer is trying to emulate the growth it achieved with notebooks in the server market. It is great for us as there is only so much marketing we can do ourselves.”