C2000 secures AMD deal
Firms sign distribution agreement
Computer 2000 (C2000) has strengthened its system builder credentials after signing a distribution deal with AMD.
The addition of AMD is a big win for C2000's rapidly expanding components division, while AMD will be hoping that the broadline distributor will increase its popularity with a wide variety of channel partners.
C2000 is now classed as an authorised CPU franchised distributor alongside existing AMD partners Avnet and Microtronica. The UK agreement with AMD is an extension of a pan-European distribution agreement made with C2000's parent company, Tech Data.
"We're exceptionally pleased to be working with AMD," said John Osborne, general manager of the components business unit at C2000. He added that this is a major step forward for the distributor in the UK.
"This is an important addition to our portfolio, one that extends choice for our customers and one that enhances our proposition in the system builder market very significantly indeed," he said.
Doug Hooks, director of European regional marketing for the computation products group at AMD, said: "C2000 adds a new dimension to our distribution network, and this agreement will bring our award-winning family of processors within the reach of more resellers across the UK.
"We are confident this will be a beneficial relationship for both firms, and more importantly, for our shared customers."
C2000 is hoping to open new markets for AMD, especially to web-based and mail-order resellers and retailers. Under-pinning the new drive will be the distributor's web-based ordering service, InTouch Products OnLine.
InTouch offers users current pricing and stock availability information online. It also allows customers to build quotations, manage their accounts, print statements and invoices, track deliveries, organise returns and receive discounted delivery offers.
According to Osborne, ordering via the web is the future. "For many components buyers, the web is the preferred place to locate and secure stocks. InTouch makes it easy to check stock and place orders quickly and cost-effectively. We see this as a key advantage in this market," he said.
AMD is the latest addition to C2000's fast-growing components business, as the company sets out to become a key supplier to the system builder marketplace.
The division took on leading graphics card maker PNY Technologies and peripherals giant AOpen earlier this year, and boosted its LCD business at the end of 2003 by adding LG and GNR. In March, the distributor announced that components sales to the system builder sector increased by 20 per cent in six months.