Alcatel-Lucent tempts VARs with zero per cent financing

Vendor teams up with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to encourage customer spending

Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services is hoping to encourage customer spending by offering zero per cent financing to its channel network.

The vendor has teamed up with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions for the deal, which includes a three-month payment deferral for bedding-in of new technology, and can be used to fund Alcatel-Lucent’s entire portfolio of voice, data and UC solutions.

It will run until the end of the year, with the hope of encouraging cash-strapped customers to invest in updating their technology.

Trevor Evans, business development manager at Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services, said: “In today's economic situation many companies are finding it more expensive and difficult to negotiate traditional loan facilities to take advantage of a rapidly changing communications environment. Partnering with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions has already enabled many of our customers to implement new technology to manage their communication needs more effectively.

"Because of our success with the zero per cent finance offer last year, we have decided to re-introduce it for this extended period to enable more of our customers to take advantage of the benefits of investing in our technology solutions.”

Martin Rix, telecoms sales manager at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, added: “We look forward to continuing this financing offer in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services. By enabling customers to spread the cost of their investment in technology over the product's useful life, companies can gain significant ROI benefits.

"Combining forces with Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services allows us to offer their business partners and their customers a flexible payment scheme to assist them in financing communications technology upgrades."