Ingram Micro revs up for mobile computing

VARs to be offered mobility marketing support, web tools and sales education and opportunities

Ingram Micro has launched a pan-European marketing drive aimed at encouraging resellers to get involved in the lucrative mobile computing arena.

Starting this month and lasting until January, the Speed Up Your Mobile Business Programme, backed by notebook vendors such as Acer, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Toshiba, Hewlett Packard and IBM, will focus on notebooks, SMEs and cross-selling.

VARs will be offered marketing support, web tools and education on sales opportunities around mobility.

Kevin Vine, director of networking services at Ingram Micro UK, said: "The scheme is designed to inform resellers of how notebooks have moved on and the product bundles available to wrap around them."

Vine claimed the fact that the programme is backed by household names in the notebook market adds credence to it.

According to Vine, the delay between corporate take-up of mobile technologies and SME adoption means technology moves on rapidly, and it is important that resellers don't miss out on opportunities.

"We are trying to take a snapshot in time to inform partners what is around now," he said.

Ann Keefe, sales director UK at Kingston Technology, said the vendor supports any initiative that informs resellers of the add-on components available. "We are looking at putting together product bundles and promotions with our distribution partners targeted at mobility," she said.

Kingston is still investing in memory products for the notebook market, Keefe added. "We have products designed specifically to upgrade notebooks because this sector is still growing fast," she said.