Corel counters its critics with Wordperfect bundle

Following complaints that it has been trying to pack its channel with stock, Corel has completed a bundling deal to pre-install Wordperfect Suite 7 on Packard Bell-NEC PCs.

The deal looks set to be extended to include machines from Zenith Data Systems and NEC worldwide, and will see an estimated five million copies of Wordperfect Suite 7 being shipped.

Corel hopes it can now begin to steal market share from Microsoft.

The software vendor has designed a specially formatted version of Wordperfect Suite 7 for the Packard Bell deal, which includes Wordperfect, Quattro Pro 7, Presentations 7, Corelflow 3. It has 150 fonts and 10,000 clipart images.

Corel president and CEO, Michael Cowpland, said: 'We see this as just the first step in a long and mutually-beneficial relationship with Packard Bell-NEC.'

The company offers rebates on its products to those distributors who buy in large amounts, creating impetus for continued purchasing.

A number of Corel's distribution partners have complained that the practice is an attempt to inflate its sales figures for the quarter by pushing its distribution channel to hold increasing levels of stock.