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Mitel puts Trust in first UK distributor since 2007

Comms vendor appoints Lancashire outfit to distribute 5000 CP product, four years after canning all five UK distributors

Mitel has partnered with Trust Distribution, four years after it canned all five of its UK distributors and moved to a single-tier channel model.

Lancashire-based Trust has been brought on board to distribute the Mitel 5000 Communications Platform (CP) and has been tasked with signing up new partners. The comms vendor has stressed that existing partners – including those already stocking the 5000 CP – will continue to be managed directly.

Trust, which also distributes NEC, Panasonic and others, is Mitel's first distribution appointment since 2007, when it moved to a single-tier model. Relationships with Nimans, Westcon, Crane, Nessco and Rocom were all terminated as part of the move. Mitel explained at the time that it was not receiving sufficient focus from the quintet.

Mitel sales director Robert Hutton claimed the 5000 CP is "well suited to a distribution model".

"Trust is well placed to service the small business market and broaden Mitel's reach into that market," he added. "By expanding our channel strategy to include distribution of the 5000 CP through Trust, we can further increase our penetration into SMBs and maximise the opportunities for all Mitel resellers in the growing IP and unified communications markets."

Paul Hunter, Mitel brand manager at Trust, added:"Mitel has invested heavily in the 5000 CP and its applications, which was a big attraction to Trust. We are now positioned to offer our resellers an alternative, feature-rich platform that is not over-distributed, enabling them to meet the communications needs of SMBs, both now and in the future."

Look out for an interview with Mitel and channel reaction on ChannelWeb on Monday.