Magirus expands IBM range after talks

Product range revamped after successful talks.

Networking distributor Magirus is set to expand its IBM product range following successful talks with the vendor.

Magirus will add the full range of IBM's mid-market i-Series (formerly AS/400) servers and RS/6000 SP Unix servers to its range of products.

The deal completes the partial offering of RS/6000 products Magirus inherited from Ingram when it acquired the broadline distributor's networking division last year (CRN, 10 May 2000). Magirus also began selling IBM's Intel-based Netfinity servers this year.

Pieter Waasdorp, joint managing director of Magirus, said: "The deal shows that as a company we are on the right track. IBM believes we can grow its business and that Magirus can add value through incremental business."

Waasdorp stressed that he is keen to add IBM's software and printer lines to the company's portfolio.

"I want Magirus to provide complete solutions to our customers, not just boxes, and to do that we will go after everything," he said.

Ian Simmons, IBM UK's web server channel sales manager, said: "IBM has been looking to expand its distribution nationwide for some time as we look for greater coverage. Magirus was chosen because it demonstrated to us that it can drive revenue for both ourselves and its customers."

The IBM deal comes a month after Magirus and Hewlett Packard had to deny rumours that discussions between the two had broken down (CRN, 14 February).

Waasdorp confirmed that talks were continuing.