Avnet to Supply Virtualization Sales, Technical Expertise to Microsoft Channel Partners

Avnet Technology Solutions, the distribution arm of Avnet Inc., said that it will provide sales and technical expertise, education and demand generation materials to help Microsoft Corp.’s virtualization channel partners to build a practice in the technology.

The distributor said that it will provide the vendor’s channel partners with technology and resources necessary to market Microsoft-based virtualization solutions, including its System Center products, to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

"Virtualization presents a tremendous revenue opportunity for value-added resellers, especially in the SMB market," said Tony Madden, ATS senior vice president, Global Supplier Business Executive, Americas.

The initiative will be extended both to new Microsoft channel partners and existing value-added resellers focused on virtualization solutions for SMB customers. Courses and campaigns to build partner awareness will be offered in addition to readiness assessment services and demand generation activities.

"With Microsoft, we will provide channel partners with the technology and resources they need to successfully address this market opportunity and help them build competitively differentiating virtualization practices,” Madden said.

One Avnet channel partner, Distributed Systems Services Inc. (DSS), a provider of professional, managed and hosted services to mid-market customers based in Wyomissing, PA, said that the combination of Microsoft’s virtualization solutions and Avnet’s support provides an “ideal combination of specialized virtualization technology, resources, sales and technical enablement to continue to grow our business,” according to Dennis Niedrowski, DSS director, professional services.

Avnet has set up a web site called VirtCentral as a repository of resources and information to help channel partners build a successful Microsoft virtualization practice.