Microsoft resellers cheer Surface ADR extension

Trustmarque, Millgate and Tangible Benefit among the 41 new UK resellers picked to carry Microsoft's tablet

Microsoft resellers have expressed their joy at the extension of Microsoft's authorised device reseller (ADR) programme through distribution.

As CRN revealed last week, Microsoft extended the number of appointed ADRs in the UK from the list of 14 to 55, with another 41 appointed through the UK's two Microsoft authorised device distributors (ADDs) Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

Clare Barclay, general manager of small and mid-market solutions at Microsoft UK, confirmed the update in a statement sent to CRN.

"At our Worldwide Partner Conference in July, Microsoft announced plans to expand our channel from a few hundred partners selling and servicing Surface to a few thousand globally," she said.

"In line with these plans we are pleased to confirm in the UK that effective 1 September 2015 the number of ADRs selling Surface will increase from its current 14 to 55. This development means that customers will have even more options to buy and benefit from Surface."

One of the resellers which made it onto the updated list was London-based Tangible Benefit, and the firm's operations director, Stuart Wohlman, expressed his delight at being included on list.

"The Surface is a fantastic product and it is absolutely something we want to sell and we are very pleased that Microsoft has let us do that," he said.

"It's a product familiar to IT departments. It's Windows, so it's secure, easy to manage, and it's backed up by good software. It's just a very well-built piece of hardware," he said.

"It almost has the Apple factor about it; it's a very sexy product."

Wohlman said Tangible Benefit was nominated by both Tech Data and Ingram Micro, so it is able to procure through both disties. He added that marketing materials have been made available for the firm and that he is expecting announcements about training days and pricing support on special deals.

When asked if he felt the number of resellers appointed was too many, he said the competition would be "healthy for the market", and he was not concerned by the amount decided upon.

Another reseller to make it onto the ADR list was Millgate, and Omar Waine, the firm's vendor relations manager, said now was a great time to be appointed.

"It's a really good time to be having the conversation [with customers]. A lot of the public sector bodies are going back now we are into September so it's a good time to be enrolled in it," he said.

"And the launch of Windows 10 will help, as there will be a lot more devices in the channel because of Windows 10. Also, other new software products in terms of Office 2016 which is coming out next month – that will help."

Trustmarque was also among the resellers to get the nod, and Shaun Ward, an infrastructure architect at the reseller, said the Surface will greatly benefit Trustmarque's customer offering.

"It furthers our existing capabilities with Microsoft. We are already a Gold partner, but this is just about expanding our existing architecture. The Surface Pro 3 extends our offering," he said.

Ward said there has previously been much interest in the Surface from customers and around the industry.

Extending the list to of resellers 55 will also have an impact on the existing 14, but Chris McQuade, operations manager at PCS, one of previously appointed ADRs, was not worried about the changes.

"There is plenty of business out there for everyone, so we are not concerned by it. We sell HP and Lenovo unrestricted, so selling Microsoft in a large pool is not a problem," he said.

When approached, Ingram Micro and Tech Data declined to comment.