Distributors to make RS/6000s

The IBM AIX division will roll out a scheme in the UK and Europe this month to allow select distributors to manufacture low-end RS/6000 machines, following similar moves by Big Blue to allow some final assembly of PCs and AS/400s.

As revealed in last week's PC Dealer, Martin Beckwith, European channel operations manager at IBM UK, said: 'This is open to all of our distributors but will only be viable to large companies with $50 million turnover and above who invest in infrastructure. We are talking to both CST and Bytech in the UK.'

He said that similar schemes were rolled out in the US three weeks ago.

In Germany, IBM will involve Magirus in the scheme, in Italy Milan-based PCD and in Holland corporate reseller Info' Products.

'The scheme has already started but there's a long process for accreditation,' Beckwith said.

The programme is currently based around the low-end hardware, although there is a possibility it may be extended in the future.

The move is part of IBM's global plan to push towards two-tier distribution.

'We're giving distributors the chance to complete RS machines to an IBM specification,' Beckwith said.

That would give RS distributors greater flexibility and the ability to turn stock round more quickly.