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Symantec Re-jigs Partner Program

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Nine months after the Veritas acquisition security and availability software vendor Symantec has launched a new partner program that brings its 1600 Australian and New Zealand Symantec and Veritas partners under one umbrella.

David Blackman, Symantec Channel Director for the Pacific Region, told SmartOffice News the new program was part of a global roll-out covering more than 60,000 reseller organisations and bringing what was once eight different partner websites into one portal while simplifying the tiered structure of the program to better suit its diverse partner base.

Importantly, the new partner program tracks and rewards partner performance for the value and expertise they bring to customers as well as the volume of products and services they sell.

The difference is that with the points based system it means you don’t necessarily get the most attention for having the highest revenue, said Blackman. You get points for your marketing efforts, specialisations and investment in training, he explained.

The four tier program means that a partner can join at the ‘registered’ level and move up the tiers in recognition of the commitment to Symantec without having huge sales volumes. Similarly they can move downward, notes Blackman.

Channel Partners are now classified as either; Registered, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Silver and above level partners have increased access to online service such as technical information and advanced product notification.

The partner portal, PartnerNet, also offers access to competitive information, marketing campaigns and collateral, a quote generator and the dealer registration system.

The new PartnerNet portal is part of a five-fold increase in partner-focused technology infrastructure investment, said Blackman

“We have actually created a whole team called the Partner Enablement Team which is working with managed partners and producing technical and sales training programs. Face-to-face contact will be as important as it has ever been and we plan to run 3000-4000 face-to-face training courses across sales and technical this year.

The company already has more than 600 under its belt following a seven capital roadshow to tell partners of its first integrated Vertias/Symantec offering for the mid-market.

“The key message for the partners was that they can now leverage both security and availability. A lot of the partners are focused on one or the other, now they have the opportunity to get into information security and information availability,” said Blackman.

The new solution combines Symantec’s LiveState Recovery with what was Veritas and Backup Exec which now share code between them and are offered as a bundled solution.

While EMC remains the current marketshare leader (29.7%) in the global storage software market, Symantec moved into second place with the acquisition of Veritas (20.3%). IBM is in third spot (10.5%) with Network Appliance (6.6%) and HP (6.5%) also players in the market.

 

 

 

Notebook Battery Drought Affecting PC Shipments

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Following a fire this month at one of the biggest South Korean battery makers, LG Chem, notebook battery production is being halted for up to three months, the company said.

 

 


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And according to Asustek Computer, one of the top two PC makers in Taiwan, a global shortage of batteries for computers could affect anywhere up to 40 per cent of its second-quarter PC shipments.
“The shortage could affect 30 per cent to 40 per cent of second quarter shipments, but it looks like a short-term issue,” Kevin Lin, vice president for Asustek, said.

LG Chem is a major supplier for Asustek’s batteries and also sells to companies like Dell and Hewlett-Packard. The second-largest battery maker in the country, it competes with its larger Korean rival, Samsung SDI.
“Battery supply was already very tight in the first quarter, and after the fire, everyone started to buy from Sony and Panasonic,” said Daniel Chang, a Macquarie Securities analyst.

Chang said that the battery shortage problem could trim shipments for the major laptop PC makers.
According to IDC, global laptop shipments are expected to rise to 138.6 million units this year from 110.3 million units in 2007.

 

Optima HiFi Formfactor Media Center

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Optima Technology Solutions has introduced its first component form factor Media Center PC in a flurry of announcements from the local manufacturer.

The company was quick to jump on the home media market with a tower Windows Media Center PC, but the component form factor alluded the company for over a year.

Now it has delivered a PC under $2,000. The new compact Entertainment Media Centre preinstalled with the latest Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 featuring Update Rollup 2.

Apart from the new form factor the new operating system supports a range of new capabilities not available in original Australian Media Centre PCs, including high-definition TV and video, and the Media Center Extender functionality of Xbox 360.


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Optima is also now bundling a free 30-day trial of the IceGuide electronic program guide (EPG).

“We are focused on the realisation of the digital home, developing products that converge our traditional consumer electronic and computer lines and better support the growth of this exciting market,” said Cornel Ung, Managing Director and Executive Chairman, Optima.

“While there’s always been resistance to the idea of a PC in the living room, most of it has hinged on the differences in user experience between PCs and audio-visual equipment like TVs and VCRs,” said Ung “Our new Entertainment Media Centre blurs the lines between traditional computers and home entertainment devices in both look and functionality, to the point where the two are becoming indistinguishable.

Optima has also added its first-ever digital home theatre projector, the Optima DDPD16SV00 DLP Digital Projector uses Digital Light Processing to successfully reproduce up to 16.7 million colours, delivering images with superior clarity, contrast (2000:1) and brightness (1800 ANSI lumens). TrueVision technology supports smooth and seamless video performance, while a fully customised colour management system allows individual colours to be adjusted for colour intensive activities. It also includes a choice of lamp output modes so users can alter image brightness to accommodate varying light conditions.
 
Optima has also grown its core computer portfolio with the Centoris KN Performance Series – its first gaming notebook. The new model seamlessly supports the latest 3D games and applications, creating detailed, realistic characters and environments for the ultimate gaming experience. With a NVIDIA GeForce Go 6600 graphics processing unit, the KN Performance delivers a smooth, high-definition video and graphics performance. It uses a Mobile Intel 915PM Express chipset for superior quality surround audio and an Intel PRO/Wireless Network Connection for tri-mode (802.11a/b/g) access to the Internet, network resources and multimedia applications.
 
“Convergence is not just about the digital home,” said Ung. “Gaming is a good example of how the digital home experience can transcend the physical limits of the home environment, with users wanting to take their experience on the road, to work and on long commutes. Our gaming notebooks are another example of the way we’re adding options for our customers, without losing focus on our core strengths as a company.” 
 

D-Link Certified Engineer Training

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D-Link has announced a new program of training for its resellers and systems integrators.

The D-Link Certified Network Engineer (DCNE) two-day technical training course will replace the company’s DCE certification programme and provide participants with D-Link recognition as certified professionals in their chosen discipline(s) (Security, Switch and/or Wireless).

The course is designed specifically for Channel Partner and Reseller Network Technicians, Administrators and support staff and includes the following modules:

  • Network Basics and Theory
  • LAN and Switches
  • Wireless LAN
  • Network Security

Maurice Famularo, Marketing Director of D-Link ANZ said: “As a company completely committed to our Channel we are continually looking for new and interesting ways to keep our partners up to date with the latest D-Link product news and advancements.

“In developing this particular DCNE Training Course we made it a priority to reach beyond our channel partners and also understand the businesses and people they serve.  Using the knowledge gained from this effort as a guide, we have restructured our training system to focus on providing partners and resellers with the education and experience they need to effectively satisfy the networking demands of their own partners and customers,” said Famularo.

An added incentive for D-Link Channel Partners and Resellers to participate in the new DCNE Training Course is the $250 redemption voucher offered to each and every programme partaker.

Course Shcedule

Melbourne
21-22 March
Eden of the Park

Sydney
10-11 April
Stamford Grand North Ryde

Brisbane
28-29 March
Christie Corporate Centre

Auckland
3-4 April
Sky City

Register at www.dlink.com.au/training

 

 

 

 

Toshiba HD DVD Notebook In May

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Toshiba has announced it will release the Qosmio G30 onto the Austrlian market in May this year.

The G30 is the world’s first announced notebook PC sporting the new high definition capable DVD format. Due locally in late May, the G30 is the latest in the Qosmio line of multimedia notebooks from Toshiba. The 17-inch screen makes this a large widescreen device designed for watching TV and DVD and taking advantage of all that digital media has to offer.

The Qosmio G30 features HDMI output allowing the PC to be hooked up to an HD TV and to act as the video source for large-sized TVs or home theatre projectors. A full array of interfaces include 5.1ch digital audio output (S/P DIF), RGB, S-Video output, i.LINK (IEEE1394), AV input (composite video input, L/R audio input), and USB2.0 x 4.

Both Digital Video Broadcasting TV tuner (DVB-T) and an analogue tuner are integrated and can be used simultaneously.

The widescreen is WUXGA and supports 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and will playback HD DVD content at 1920 x 1080 pixels.

For audio Toshiba has included a 1-bit digital amplifier and large diameter harman/kardon bass-reflection stereo speakers for the Dolby Home Theatre sound.

The optical drive is a shade under 13mm thick and backward compatible to DVD and CD discs including writing to DVD+/-R DL (dual-layer) and DVD-RAM.

The whole lot is powered by an Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor teamed with an nVidia GeForce 7600 graphics adaptor for 3D graphics rendering.

Mark Whittard, General Manager: Australia and New Zealand, Toshiba Information Systems Division (ISD): “Opportunities to enjoy high-definition content will only increase as broadband networks expand and TV transitions to high definition digital broadcasts. As consumers become acquainted with HD content on their computers, they will also want it on their TVs. With Qosmio, we lead the PC industry in innovation to meet this growing demand.”

“The new Qosmio is the world’s first PC to support broadband, digital broadcasting media, and HD DVD-ROM. We have made this step to promote the early and fast penetration of the next generation DVD format,” he said.

LG Recalls Microwave Ovens

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LG Electronics is voluntarily recalling microwave ovens manufactured between August 2007 to February 2008 in order to repair a fault which “may pose a risk of electric shock to the user”, according to the company.

LG notes the products are being recalled because in some cases an internal part of the unit may be loose which may cause an electrical short circuit which will trip the household’s safety switch.  In rare cases this may result in an electric shock to the user in households that do not have a safety switch.  This issue does not affect other LG products.
 
LG Electronics will inspect and, if necessary, repair the unit at no cost to consumers.
 
Although any risk of electric shock is low, customers are asked to cease use of the product until it has been inspected and repaired.
 
Customers with the following appliance model numbers and serial number range should contact the Customer Information Line on 1800 506 154 to arrange for an appointment to service the appliance.
 
Model numbers:
MS-2346VR, MS2347GR
Serial number range:
Serial numbers commencing 708 to 802
Manufactured: August 2007 to February 2008
 
LG Electronics says it is liaising with the ACCC and state electrical safety offices in relation to the recall process.
 
For further information contact the Customer Information Line on 1800 506 154.
 

 

Any old Iron

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To help boost business sales, Netgear is offering customers a chance to trade in their old switches for newer models.

Actually it’s a competitive ‘Trade Up’ offer and any old Cisco, 3Com, HP or Nortel switches qualify if they are offered up before July 31. In return Netgear will give the customer up to $100 off a new managed switch.

“After Y2K, many companies undertook a radical equipment refresh,” said Katrina Myles, Business Development Manager, Netgear. “Now, five years on, these systems have again become dated and need upgrading. Our new offer provides business with an easy and affordable way to refresh old hardware and take advantage of the latest switching technology.”

Complementing the Trade Up offer, Netgear has also unveiled new corporate pricing.

 
To claim the Netgear rebate, customers simply register their details online at: www.netgear.com.au/tradeup

Microsoft and Google Squabble Over AOL

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COMMENT: According to the web chatter, both Microsoft and Google are in talks with AOL.

Looks like the major Internet players are getting closer to working out how they want to carve up the globe’s current and future online communities. There will no doubt be a  few properties that are fought over fiercely and others that wither on the vine.

AOL might fall into either or both of those camps.

The company is definitely in play. PC Week reportedly early in the week that AOL boss Jonathon Miller had to dodge questions from the press about rumours it was doing a deal (or an acquisition) with MSN.

Then three days later it turns out that MSN has done an instant messaging deal with Yahoo to allow interoperability between the two platforms – a smart VOIP play.

Meanwhile, this story says that when Google heard Microsoft was sniffing around it got together with cable company Comcast to look at taking a minority stake in AIL, which would presumably allow them to cut Microsoft out of the action.

The story says AOL is still talking to Microsoft despite already doing a deal with Yahoo!

Even though AOL has been progressively shedding subscribes it still commands a significant amount of pull in the US market. AOL opened its skirts earlier this year tearing down the barriers to its content rich portal which was previously reserved for its own subscribers and relying in part on Google advertising revenues.

This puts the AOL vs MSN + Yahoo! Instant messaging users at about equal in the all important US market. The next nearest IM platform is ICQ which is interoperable with AOL giving it a little more edge. Fourth is Skype in the US market but ICQ and Skype are so far behind the top three you have to doubt that any other platforms could possibly hope to gain enough momentum. Skype has grown at a phenomenal rate though so you would have to count it in as a contender.

Google Labs only launched its only GoogleTalk messaging service to market in August. Though it has a huge proportion of the internet search market, it is a long way behind in the IP communications space.

If Microsoft is in interoperability talks with AOL it could easily make search and search advertising part of the deal.

For its part Microsoft is a long way behind Google when it comes to search and advertising. It’s adCenter services is in early pilot stages and still looking for testers in the US.

It’s been a big week for Microsoft announcing it had kissed and made up with Real so that they could work together to battle Google/Sun and eBay/Skype. The enemy of my enemy is my friend the deal gives Microsoft a short cut to relevance in its battle against the iPod.

HD DVD Goes On Sale

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The HD DVD high-definition video disk format backed by Toshiba won the battle to be first on the US market yesterday, with two Hollywood studios launching movies on the new format, and the first HD DVD players reaching retail stores.

But it was a tentative start. Universal and Warner Home Video shipped a total of just three titles: The Last Samurai, The Phantom of the Opera, and Serenity.

Players from Toshiba sold at Best Buy stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, but supplies were scarce and all sold out quickly. The players sell for US$499.

Most of the big Hollywood studios are backing the rival Blu-ray format, promoted by Sony. Sony expects to ship its first Blu-ray titles on May 23 – but the first Blu-ray player (from Samsung) is not due in the stores until late June.

Warner Home Video forecasts that overall industry sales of next-generation DVDs will reach as much as US$750 million in the last quarter of this year.