DCM plans to converge on the UK

Distributor opens UK business to exploit voice and data convergence

Irish distributor Data Communications Management (DCM) is launching a UK business to cash in on the voice and data convergence opportunity.

The UK operation will initially sell voice PBXs from Israel-based vendor Tadiran Technology that also has call centre, Voice over IP (VoIP), digital and analogue functionality.

DCM UK will consult on products from Expand Networks, but will not supply kit.

Scott Dobson has left his position as vice-president EMEA at bandwidth optimisation vendor Expand Networks to run DCM in the UK.

The distributor has been operating in Ireland since 1978 and already sells into the UK market.

Dobson, who has previously worked at Data Connectivity and Logitek, said: "Distribution is what I know, and there is space for another player in the voice and data convergence space."

He added that the distributor already has relationships with resellers with a voice background, and will now look for data-centric VARs to partner with.

"From day one the products will be voice-centric, but I am going to be looking for data resellers because we are planning to bring data products on board," Dobson said. "It will be the usual suspects."

He is confident that the current economic climate is right for DCM's entry into the UK.

"If there was ever a right time it is now, because everybody is optimistic about an upturn and VoIP is seen as a serious value proposition."

Manny Pinon, sales and marketing director at rival distributor Norwood Adam, said it will be interesting to see how many of DCM's vendor partners in Ireland will be transferred to the UK.

"Tadiran is not distributed by anyone else in the UK, so there will be an opportunity around this," he said.

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