Intel eases path for notebook builders

Channel partners encouraged to sell and build Centrino-based notebooks and servers

Intel has kicked off a campaign to encourage channel partners to sell and build Centrino-based notebooks and servers, and has appointed Microtronica as its first mobile and server value-added distributor (VAD).

Microtronica will offer system builders the choice of buying either bare-bones notebooks and servers or fully configured systems. The distributor will use notebook and server chassis supplied by Asus.

The move is designed to attract more system builders towards either building or reselling fully configured notebooks and servers to their existing customers.

Notebooks have proved to be a costly and complex arena for many small PC system builders. Microtronica has claimed that these companies find it difficult to order notebook chassis and reliable components in small quantities.

John Bainbridge, Intel's UK and Ireland sales director, said: "It is difficult for [system builders] to get into the notebook arena, which is why we are brokering relationships with original design manufacturers, and authorised partners.

"They can buy a bare-bones system and put their own brand on it or go for fully-configured systems from an authorised partner, or what we call mobile VADs. Microtronica is the first mobile VAD in the UK."

Les Billing, managing director of Microtronica, said: "This is a new area of business for us and there is no one else doing this in the channel.

"We want to facilitate local integrators that want to get into the notebook marketplace but can't or don't want to assemble the systems themselves.

"It's a cost-effective way of getting started. If they do it properly, system builders can still make more margin branding their own notebooks than by reselling a mainstream one."

Both Intel and Microtronica will offer training sessions to potential customers throughout the rest of the year.