MS shuffles Select cards ready for cut

The vendor has swelled the ranks of Select Lars, but is determined toreduce their numbers

Bytes has successfully become a Microsoft UK direct large account reseller, but doubts still remain about the status of existing Lars as the vendor tries to further reduce the number of dealers selling Select.

The UK subsidiary also signed SHL as a direct Lar last month, despite the reseller's initial preference to work with distributor Merisel.

According to sources, Microsoft is anxious to cut numbers after admitting there are still 'too many' Lars.

Shaun Frohlich, MD of Bytes, said he did not fear getting knocked out in the second round. 'We've just got our contract and that's part of the reason why. It would have been ridiculous to let us in now and kick us out later. We're very grateful to the UK mob for fighting our corner.'

Two or three other dealers, including Servo, are expected to win the right to sell Select in January.

Gordon Smillie, sales manager of Microsoft UK's corporate customer unit, said: 'As we came up before the deadline, we identified a number of companies who persuaded me they should sell Select. We are investigating a few more.'

Evidence of these additions to the Select fold is expected to encourage those excluded from Select to try to fight for the contract once again.

But Smillie dashed hopes, emphasising that he was 'not looking for any more - we are just making the odd change'.

Microsoft caused uproar in the channel earlier this year after removing Select from distribution and deciding to use less than 30 partners to sell the volume licensing agreements.

One source said: 'They've let a few people through for political reasons, but there will be a cull soon because they want to get down to a reasonable number again.'