A Novell idea from Ideal
Vendor signs up with distributor and aims to decrease direct touch with partners
Ideal has begun distributing Novell as the vendor looks to decrease its direct touch with VARs.
Novell, which will use its Brainshare Europe event in Barcelona next month to re-launch its channel programme, is already distributed by Computer 2000 (C2000)/Azlan, and following its purchase of SuSE last year, now has Ideal on board.
Ideal had an agreement with SuSE, which Novell has now extended to its own products.
"Having two distributors gives more choice to resellers," said Alex Tatham, vice-president of software at Bell Microproducts Europe, Ideal's parent firm. "We will focus on Novell licensing first then look at specialist areas."
Steve Brown, Novell's UK managing director, said: "We have a very keen eye on the ISV community. There will an opportunity for existing NetWare partners to migrate to Linux."
Last year Novell removed Ingram Micro from its distribution roster, claiming it wanted to work directly with its top tier of Business Expert VARs. However, the vendor will now encourage all VARs to use distribution.
Richard Hales, general manager software at C2000, said this would minimalise the impact on C2000 of a second distributor.