Apple appoints expert resellers

Apple today anointed its picks for the best resellers in Australia and New Zealand under its "consultants network", a certified professionals program.

Although Perth, Sydney and Melbourne were well represented, Darwin missed out. The resellers that covered most states of Australia and in New Zealand were:

• Computers Now (Melbourne and Sydney)
• Digistor (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)
• gizmo (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Gold Coast, Canberra)
• Key Options Technology (Sydney and Canberra)
• Kytec Group (Perth, Sydney, Melbourne)
• Winthrop Australia (Perth, Melbourne, Sydney)
• XciteLogic (Perth)
• Renaissance Limited (Auckland)

Apple said its anointed dealers will help users "make the most of their technology investment".

Members of the network provide a range of services, from basic set-up and configuration for home users to advanced enterprise deployments.

Although not employed by Apple, member organisations are required to acquire and maintain Apple Certifications, be fluent in multi-platform solutions and able to deliver on-site technology services and support.

"This is a separate to our reseller [and] channel partners," Apple spokesperson Fiona Martin told CRN, adding that it is not a Genius Bar for business customers.

"The Apple Retail Store Genius Bar is the place customers choose to visit if they need hands-on technical support for their Apple products," she said.

"The Apple Consultants Network offer onsite technology services and support in your home or at your business, implementing solutions for your Apple products or mixed-platform environments."

There is no fee associated with annual membership; however, member companies must employ technical staff that hold at least one Apple certification supporting their specific customer focus area.

"We currently have eight members on-board and with the interest received, [we] anticipate this will grow quickly," Martin said.

Digistor group marketing manager Mark Richards has been working with Apple with a view to joining the network "over the past couple of months".

"Apple approached us a little while ago when they were setting up the Consultants Network in Australia," he said. "We've been working as an Apple reseller for the past 15 years; this is just a formalisation of that relationship from our point of view."

Digistor is a systems integrator that targets digital media producers. The company has always maintained Apple certification, Richards said, so there was no cost involved in joining the network.

"We're providing the same service we always did; we're just using Apple's market reach to reach more customers," he told CRN.