FSC wins Nice PC deal with Edinburgh Council

Home Computing Initiative proves fruitful for Fujistu Siemens Computers and reseller Nice PC

Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC) has won a deal to provide Edinburgh Council's 20,000 employees with computer equipment under the Home Computing Initiative (HCI).

The deal will be fulfilled mainly through FSC reseller Nice PC, according to Ian Snadden, director for SME and channel sales at FSC. "This HCI rollout will be coming through our HCI channel partners, which will provision, sell and add value to the scheme," he said.

Under the HCI scheme employees take on a loan for the computer equipment and make payments through a direct contribution from their salary, which Fujitsu Siemens claimed can save users up to 45 per cent on high street prices.

The Edinburgh scheme runs over three years and will see 20,000 council employees able to choose from a range of FSC laptops and desktop PCs for educational and leisure use.

Tom Aitchson, chief executive at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "The HCI is an excellent way for employees to enjoy having a computer at home, including developing the IT skills essential to many of today's workforce."

Snadden said that the channel is aware of the sales potential lurking within HCI schemes.

"Resellers really want to get into HCI and we are helping them unlock the potential of it. They can increase the depth of their added value and provide upgrades on kit to employees," he said.

James Floyd, general manager at Nice PC, said: "We expect there to be a 15 to 20 per cent take-up rate in Edinburgh. The official bodies that HCI schemes have to go through do throw a spanner in the works, but it's a good thing to have them.

"HCI schemes are very good for employees and we've never had a single computer returned after the three-year period."

Distributor Computer 2000 has also recently ramped up its support for HCI schemes and created a "massive opportunity" in the UK channel.

The firm has launched its own HCI scheme designed to help resellers take advantage of this opportunity, even appointing specialist HCI account manager Lisa Henderson to handle it.