HCI Alliance demands unity over next scheme
Big three prepared to set up an alternative to the recently scrapped Home Computing Initiative
Three of the IT industry’s biggest players are calling for a unified approach from the channel to establish an alternative scheme to the recently abolished Home Computing Initiative (HCI).
Microsoft, Intel and BT, the founding members of the HCI Alliance, admitted they will continue to work together, despite announcing that they would disband after losing an appeal to save HCI, a tax-break PC scheme (CRN, 8 May).
Vivien Quinn, HCI Alliance director, told CRN: “There is no point in everybody going out there with different schemes. We’re in discussions with all sorts of providers about what can be offered as an alternative.”
Quinn added that although several HCI resellers have already launched their own alternative schemes, a single-strategy approach would eliminate end-user confusion.
“Those that want to have a unified approach are talking to us,” she said. “Those that don’t, aren’t. We’re meeting with the Department of Trade and Industry this week and hope to announce something soon.”
Martin Prescott, former managing director of RedPC – exclusively revealed by CRN as the first HCI VAR to go under as a result of the HCI abolishment (CRN, 10 April) – has set up a new company called Home Training Initiative.
“I agree that the industry needs a unified approach,” he said. “We have presented our new initiative to the HCI Alliance. It is thinking about whether it wants to adopt it as the unified solution.”
John Laity, marketing director at HCI VAR OneCallPC, said: “OneCallPC was the biggest HCI provider in the UK. So although we are not currently trading, we haven’t had to close down the business. We have come up with an alternative scheme, but we are holding off until we get all the necessary bodies to approve it.”
Mike Gammie, IT services development manager at VAR Misco, said: “I think I’ll sit on the fence and see what schemes emerge before investing in one. If someone put the right package together we would definitely take a look.”