Freedom launches home-grown business unit
Alcatel reseller slows planned acquisition spree to set up its own network security-focused data unit
Alcatel VAR Freedom has put its acquisition strategy temporarily on hold and is ploughing £300,000 into developing a business unit to enter the data market organically.
After mooting plans to buy its way into the data space last summer (CRN, 19 June), the reseller has instead decided to pursue the more cautious tactic of building an Alcatel, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard and network security-focused data unit from scratch.
Tom Perry, head of marketing at Freedom, said: “We’ve only ever been an Alcatel reseller and a voice specialist. But we’ve watched convergence come to fruition and now is the right time to enter the market.”
Freedom has pledged to plough £300,000 into the new SME-focused venture over six months, after which it will begin the hunt for complementary acquisitions.
“We wanted to understand the nuances of selling into the data market before buying,” Perry said. “We have about six acquisition targets in mind and we will learn about the sector before we round them down.”
Freedom is also partnering with VAR SilverBug to offer SMEs a one-stop-shop for voice, data and desktop products.
Perry predicted that the new unit, which will be led by Paul MacDonald who previously held positions at Luminous Networks and Xpert Systems, will have about 15 employees by July.
Peter Tebbut, UK and Ireland marketing director at Alcatel’s enterprise division, said: “Freedom is one of our biggest partners in the UK and Ireland and has had considerable success in the retail and public sector. This is something we’re strongly encouraging because customers are increasingly demanding converged solutions.”
Innes Muir, UK Fortinet product manager at distributor Noxs, said: “There is a definite keenness for voice resellers to have a security offering and this will only increase as the convergence model becomes more the norm.”
Freedom adds up its finances in search to acquire data reseller