Microsoft Australia inks OEM distribution deal with Altech

Microsoft Australia has added its first OEM distributor in nearly a decade in the form of Sydney headquartered Altech.

Altech will carry Microsoft’s OEM products for system builders including OEM Microsoft Windows Vista, OEM Microsoft Office and OEM Microsoft Server products.

Pip Marlow, director of SME and partner at Microsoft Australia, told CRN: “This is a fantastic extension to our distribution strategy. Altech are a focused components distributor, which concentrates on the grassroots system builders.”

Microsoft’s two other OEM distributors, Ingram and Synnex, have been made aware of the Altech signing, and Marlow stressed that Altech plays in a different space to their current distributors.

“The signing also offers channel capacity as resellers have another partner to choose and they can leverage Altech as a one-stop shop,” added Marlow.

Antony Sheen, managing director of Altech Computers, said: “Two to three years ago we came up with the idea of becoming a Microsoft distributor. We spoke to our account manager and talked about getting our sales levels up.

“We have been working hard to sell more Microsoft and today we are excited about the news [of the distribution appointment].”

Sheen said the signing will offer Altech more leverage as its resellers will have access to Microsoft rebates and programs.

The partnership deal has been signed effective 1 November 2007 with distribution expected to begin next month.