Spot counters claims of termination by AYC
Distributor claimed it ended relationship with vendor back in August
Spot Distribution has hit back at claims that it was axed by AYC Telecom after the vendor admitted it was pursuing a sole distribution strategy with rival Hugh Symons.
AYC previously had distribution deals with Vcomm, Teleappliant and Spot Distribution before plumping for Hugh Symons (CRN, 3 October). However, Spot has claimed it terminated the deal back in August.
In a fax sent to AYC chief executive Paul Howard dated 24 August, Terry Connor, managing director of Spot, said that the decision was made after “much deliberation” following a “mixed reaction to [AYC’s] product so far”.
However, Paul Howard told CRN: “We tried to set up meetings with all our distributors, but we could not meet with Spot and after sending an email of our plans [to move to one distributor], they sent the fax.”
Howard admitted that choosing a sole distributor was a difficult decision, but said that Hugh Symons offered the best channel support.
“We feel that Hugh Symons has the resources behind it to assist the channel,” he said.
Howard added that Hugh Symons has been developing its voice capabilities for the past year and it can fully support AYC, despite not having a voice background.
Dan Belton, sales and marketing director at Hugh Symons, said: “Within the shape of our business, voice over IP (VoIP) fits very nicely into our existing portfolio. The
AYC product is new, exciting and simple to sell to a channel that is still developing.”
Marios Ktisti, strategic product manager for telecoms at Hugh Symons, said: “The SME market is under-served in terms of VoIP, so the idea is for us to become a one-stop shop.”
Mike Jones, managing director of AYC reseller Acoustik, who previously worked with Vcomm, said: “I am unsure about the level of support I will receive from Hugh Symons for my Vcomm kit.”