Consumer software outfit CyberLink courts UK channel

Adobe and Corel competitor looks to move beyond its roots as an OEM supplier

Little known but widely used vendor CyberLink is unleashing its consumer software on the UK channel.

Taiwan-based CyberLink, which has traditionally sold only through OEMs, is hunting for partners to punt its multimedia software to consumers, as well as education and corporate users.

Richard Carriere, who joined the firm as senior vice president of worldwide marketing in May, said the $150m-turnover vendor is the industry's best kept secret.

"Until three years ago, our focus was almost exclusively on OEMs, and because of that, most people don't know CyberLink as brand," he said.

Carriere stressed that CyberLink's titles, most of which are aimed at prosumers, are well-known. For instance, it sells 100-200 million of its flagship video player product, PowerDVD, through OEMs each year.

Carriere said: "The bottom line is that we have probably the best portfolio of multimedia software and the most recognised titles, all priced at a very good ratio to features. Now we need to build our corporate brand with end users."

CyberLink recently appointed Gem as its first UK distributor, but it is also on the hunt for retailers, photo/video editing shops and specialist systems integrators serving the acadmic and corporate markets. PC World and Staples are already on board.

"Prosumers who pay £400-£1,500 for a digital camera are open to spending 10 per cent on related software at the time of purchase," said Carriere. "Our Photo Director sells for £79, so it is in that sweet spot, whereas Lightroom from Adobe is more than £300."