Apple partners in suspense over delay

Distribution Apple will hold meetings this week to brief channel

Apple distributors were left hanging as the manufacturer failed to inform prospective partners - at a meeting held on 9 December - which of them had won the rights to supply its products.

According to various sources, Apple has suffered a two-week delay in making its final decision on which two distributors will have the contract.

Originally, Apple was expected to inform distributors on 28 November.

The date was then moved to 9 December, but this has been extended yet further.

One source said: 'Apple told us there would be a two-week delay. I think the US got involved while the UK has been making up its mind.'

The delay coincides with the fact that Ingram Micro US was said to be putting pressure on Apple to retain its status as an Apple distributor in the UK. It is widely expected that Ingram will be axed as it does not shift the same volume as Computer 2000 (PC Dealer, 12 November). However, Ingram is a master distributor on a worldwide basis.

In November, Apple revealed it would cut one of three distributors - C2000, Ingram and Computers Unlimited (CU) - as its channel needed to be brought in line with declining worldwide revenue.

Another source said: 'Both Julian (Klein, channel director) and Jon (Molyneux) want to keep hold of C2000 and CU, but this is a political situation. They run the UK independently of the US, but I get the feeling the US has to be included in this one.'

Klein confirmed there would be an Apple channel briefing of about 100 resellers on 9 December and said: 'We will give plans for our overall channel strategy for the next financial year. We haven't had a previous opportunity to talk to the top resellers.'

While he admitted that Apple would not announce its chosen distributors at the meeting, Klein said that a decision would be made before Christmas.

When asked whether there was a delay, Klein said: 'It depends on what your expectations are.'