Intel backs ITP for enthusiast success
Chip giant aims to unite its two reseller programmes by the end of the year
Christine Harrison: We know the competition has good product at the moment
Intel is banking on its Technology Provider (ITP) programme as it looks to unite its resale channel schemes to fuel success in the enthusiast market.
ITP is a programme for reseller salespeople and will provide members with market development tools, product roadmaps and access to support. It will sit alongside the chip giant’s existing Reseller Centre offering.
Intel UK and Ireland channel manager Christine Harrison said: “It is worth being a partner for both. But, by the end of this year, we would like to [combine] both into one.”
Harrison said ITP takes a more holistic approach to the reseller channel and urged partners to sign up and provide feedback to ensure its success.
She said the recently launched i3, i5 and i7 chips would help fuel 50 per cent growth in channel sales in the enthusiast market over the next 12 months.
"We know the competition has good product at the moment,” she said. “They are slightly lower priced, but we think we are future proof. The enthusiast market has higher price points and margin. It is not just gamers – a lot of it is about high-performance capability.”
Recent figures from Jon Peddie Research claimed that global hardware spending in the high-end gaming enthusiast space will grow by almost a third to reach $12.5bn (£8.76bn) by 2013. Sales in the lower-end performance and mainstream gaming sphere will more than triple to exceed $35m during this time.
Ted Pollak, videogame industry analyst at JPR, said: “PC hardware has caught up to most of the software.”