Avnet has signed a distribution agreement with Siemens Enterprise Communications that will see it distribute Siemens' unified communication (UC) SMB products and services to the Australian IT channel.
Up until now Siemens had an exclusive agreement with distributor IPL.
Adding Avnet as a distributor was part of Siemens' global direction to avoid exclusivity in the market, Edgar Giesel, A/NZ general manager of Siemens Enterprise Communications told CRN.
Avnet will distribute Siemens' SMB range of UC products and services including OpenScape Office MX (which will be launched in Australia next month) and the HiPath suite.
Giesel told CRN his intention with Avnet was to "build up a new channel in the small business market while increasing the company's channel and focus on the new UC platform."
"There is enough space to sell our product in the small business market - it's strong here," he said.
The deal sees the company join sister-brand Enterasys in the Avnet Australia stable.
Gavin Lawless, general manager of Avnet Technology Solutions Australia said, "Siemens Enterprise Communications' powerful suite of voice, UC and messaging solutions offers a compelling enhancement to Enterasys' data networking and security piece."
Meanwhile, Giesel said the two companies are in talks for a global agreement. "Avnet and Siemens are talking on a global a bigger partnership around the world. We are in the beginning of the talks. Siemens Australia and Avnet are the first to sign a contract for an around the world initiative.
"Avnet is an ideal partner for Siemens, with their highly skilled UC and Networking team, market reach and reputation for building true solution distribution relationships with their business partners," he said.
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