Dell has confirmed with CRN that it plans to offer consulting, management and support service for Windows 7 to Australian companies.
The service was released in the US on the 16th of October, in anticipation of Microsoft's release of its new OS on Thursday.
Dubbed 'Windows 7 Readiness Assessment', the service, according to Dell helps organisations with migrating to a new platform and creating a deployment plan.
Rob Makin, director of channel strategy and acquisition for Dell A/NZ told CRN the service falls under Dell's 'ProConsult services portfolio'.
The service was available through the vendor and members of its 'Partner Direct' program, said Makin.
"[Resellers] will have the option to resell these services to their customers," he said.
"Local partners should see this as an expanded opportunity to add to their services offerings."
Makin claimed Dell wouldn't compete as "per the governance" of its "PartnerDirect channel program".
The channel verdict
Eric Kwon, owner of independent reseller/integrator Tri-Benedict told CRN Dell was going the way of IBM.
"A lot of vendors are taking this [consulting] direction," he said. "[However] a lot of smaller players are sick of dealing with big companies.
Kwon said customers were looking for a 'personal touch' from service providers.
Chris Protheroe, manager at Queensland-based Conrad and Black IT Services told CRN that 'Windows 7 Readiness Assessment' would make no difference to his business.
"My customers prefer to deal with someone they know and trust," he said.
He claimed Windows 7 will receive a lot of 'attention' because it's the latest OS from Microsoft and that will make a huge impact on the average computer user.
"However, I must add that I am not running out telling my whole client-base to upgrade immediately," said Protheroe.
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