Extended in bid to engage VARs
'Change of philosophy' at vendor
Mobile software vendor Extended Systems is trying to re-engage with the channel, after admitting it has made little effort to do so in the past.
The vendor has also launched a packaged sales offering aimed at PocketPC and Palm device users.
"There has been a change in our philosophy," said Chris Atwell, Extended's UK sales director. "We've not been effective at dealing with the channel in the past, and frankly, it's a miracle the channel we have is still there."
Resellers of the vendor's current product, OneBridge Mobile Groupware, include CSL, Com-putacenter, O2 and Orange. Extended intends to release a set of pre-configured packages, such as OneBridge Mobile Sales, which ties into existing CRM offerings such as SAP, Siebel and Baan.
The firm is also developing connectors for Microsoft CRM and Goldmine.
"Extended Systems seems to be going for the high end of the market with its CRM connectors," said Paul Cooper, sales director at mobile specialist Data2Hand. "But we're seeing lots more action in the areas covered by ACT and Microsoft."