Metrologie moots idea of move into multimedia

Metrologie UK is to set up a graphics and multimedia division early next year, raising the possibility that the distributor could use its acquisition of French firm P-Ingenierie to gain access to Apple hardware.

Metrologie bought graphics and multimedia distributor P-Ingenierie in July. The company, which has a turnover of about Fr580 million, is France?s biggest Macintosh distributor.

Metrologie UK chairman Robert Mountain confirmed that the distributor would create a central division in the French office where graphics products would sit. He said the acquisition presented opportunities for the UK arm of the business to supply products for the graphics and multimedia industries. ?It?s a new departure for us, but it?s a market sector which is opening up.?

Mountain said Metrologie had no current plans to become an Apple distributor, and was more interested in the growing range of Intel-based graphics products available.

But the acquisition gives Metrologie access to a whole range of Apple-based products by vendors such as Adobe and Claris. The UK arm has traditionally focused on five vendors: Digital, Microsoft, IBM, Compaq and Hewlett Packard.

Ed Ewing, Apple UK channel director, insisted the vendor was not talking to Metrologie. ?We have two established pan-Europeans [C2000 and Ingram Micro] and local distributors in each country,? he said.

Ewing refused to comment on how Apple?s distribution line-up would be affected when Metrologie sets up a graphics arm in the UK.