Broadliners play down Dell move

Computer 2000 says US contract will have no impact in the UK just yet

Distributors have scotched speculation that Dell will move quickly to appoint a broadliner to carry its PCs in the UK, following a similar move in the US.

The vendor last week inked US deals with Ingram Micro and Tech Data that will give them access to its Vostro desktops and notebooks.

But Andy Gass, UK managing director of Tech Data’s UK arm, Computer 2000, said: “The announcement has no impact on the rest of the world at this stage.”

Dell currently has only four distributors in the whole of Europe, including Micro-Peripherals and Hammer in the UK for its printers and storage kit, respectively.

Emmanuel Mouquet, EMEA channel sales director at Dell, said the vendor would continue to work with distributors where they add value. But he added: “We have nothing new to announce.”

Terry Betts, managing director of Dell Certified partner CCS Media, suspected Dell would appoint a broadliner, but was concerned that the move would affect reseller margins.