IBM Announces New Program for the AS/400 Small Business Channel
Allows Software Resellers to Team with AS/400 Hardware Resellers in the Smaller Markets
Somers, NY (December 14, 1998) – IBM today announced a new program that allows independent software and hardware resellers to join forces to deliver low-cost AS/400 solutions to small businesses.
IBM’s new program aligns AS/400 more closely with a personal computer model for selling low-cost solutions to businesses with fewer than a thousand employees. With this program, a non AS/400-certified software reseller looking to enter new markets can now team with a certified AS/400 Business Partner to deliver a complete, end-to-end hardware and software solution to customers.
The first major software partner to join the new program is Accountmate Corporation, opening a way for its 2,000 associated software resellers, who previously only sold PC software, to deliver first-time solutions for AS/400. Under the terms of the program, when a potential AS/400 sales opportunity arises, resellers can contact any AS/400 distributor for a list of hardware dealers in their territory and team with a dealer to deliver a complete solution to the customer.
This program is effective on December 15 in North America and involves the AS/400e series model 170 only.
“This is a great new program from IBM and the timing for the small business market couldn’t be better. With the recent release of Visual AccountMate 400 for the AS/400e, a small business will no longer feel constrained by the limits of PC LAN technology due to price alone,” said Ben Tse, President of AccountMate. “Visual AccountMate 400 on AS/400e allows these new reseller teams to offer the power of client/server technology to their customers for under $1000 per module.”
“By design, this program leverages the strength of what each partner does best,” said Roger Arndt, AS/400 sales manager, IBM North America. “Software and hardware resellers can concentrate on their core business while delivering more powerful, reliable and scalable solutions to their customers.”
Source: IBM