Fight Back '09: Natural Selection

Barely a week away from the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s opus, On the Origin of Species, the channel is clearly demonstrating that even in today’s tough economic climate, the strong can not only survive, but thrive.

According to a GfK TEMAX report, Australian consumer spending on technology defied the economic downturn to increase by 4.2 per cent year-on-year during Q3 (July-September ). Sales were mostly driven by notebooks and consumables, with printer cartridges seeing a huge boost of 18.6 per cent.

These results were echoed by Data#3’s announcement that it is on track to return better first-half FY09/10 results than for the same period last year. EMC’s security subsidiary, RSA Security also recognised the need to adapt and evolve and made some big changes to its channel training program. The vendor is offering free training courses to resellers through services organisations such as Dimension Data, Loop Technology and Bridgepoint, and hopes to boost its certified partners from 80 to over 100 by year-end.

Also expanding its reach this week was Cyberoam, who appointed its second local distributor, Techplus, in a bid to expand its presence in the west of Australia. The Indian-based UTM appliance vendor took its first steps into the market with MPA Systems in July 2008. Cyberoam country manager, Alkesh Soneji, said the appointment came off the back of a strong year of growth.

Networking vendor, Brocade, was another vendor finding new strength to stay ahead of the game, signing a distribution deal with Distribution Central for its LAN products portfolio. Brocade country manager, Graham Schultz, said it had been looking for an organisation with strong national coverage and reach that could provide focus, adequate technical resources and skills to help grow and support its reseller base.

And enjoying the spoils of victory this week was network integrator, Communications Design & Management (CDM), who secured a contract to upgrade the Queensland Government’s Law, Justice and Safety data infrastructure. The project is part of an initiative to consolidate existing data networks of the state’s Police Services, Justice and Attorney-General and Department of Community Safety departments and encompasses 700 sites across Queensland.

Well that’s it for the good news this time but watch this space as Fight Back brings you the good news from the channel this and every week.

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