Channel News

By Richard McCaffery

Merisel Inc. of El Segundo, Calif., is offering resellers around-the-clock help-desk services as part of its value-added services division.

Customers can call Merisel's help desk for assistance with more than 200 software applications. In some cases services can be accessed via the Internet. The program is aimed at helping resellers better meet customers' needs. Merisel distributes more than 25,000 products and services to resellers in Canada and North America. The company had $4 billion in 1997 sales.
Hardware maker Micron Electronics Inc. of Nampa, Idaho, has picked Unisys Corp. to offer computer support services to strengthen Micron's position in the government and with midsize companies.

Under the agreement, Unisys will provide warranty and maintenance services to Micron's server customers throughout North America. Services include phone support and deployment. Micron customers also can get help services online.

Unisys has been providing support services for Micron's desktop products since spring.

Micron Electronics is the third-largest direct-sales computer company in the world. It had $1.7 billion in sales and $48 million in net income last year. Systems integration giant Unisys Corp., Blue Bell, Pa., had $6.6 billion in revenue and $854 million in net income last year. The company has more than 33,000 employees.
EdgeMark Systems Inc., Silver Spring, Md., has completed its acquisition of Irving Burton Associates' Oracle financials division, which is certified to integrate business software made by Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif.

The purchase is EdgeMark's second move in six months to strengthen its Oracle financials division, which sells enterprise resource planning software and services to government and commercial customers.

EdgeMark bought GFC, a Potomac, Md., services firm, in May. Privately held EdgeMark, a reseller and computer services company, didn't disclose terms for either purchase.
Letter of Intent

Pinacor Inc. and Electronic Data Systems have signed a letter of intent to form a close-knit alliance for the next five years.

Under the agreement, Pinacor, a Tempe, Ariz., computer products distribution company, would lease EDS' integration center in Allen, Texas, to integrate and deliver computers, notebooks, servers and other components for EDS. This approach would allow EDS to focus on systems integration at the customer end. The purpose is to speed delivery time to the customer. The services Pinacor will offer to EDS include product order management, sales support and project management support.

Pinacor, a division of MicroAge Inc., has projected revenue of $5 billion for 1998. EDS is a systems integration company that generated $15.2 billion in 1997.
Ingram Micro Inc. has signed agreements with two companies to support its new remote management services, which include network and server monitoring, problem resolution and performance reporting.

The Santa Ana, Calif.-based distributor inked the deals with AlphaNet Solutions Inc. of Cedar Knolls, N.J., and Data General Corp. of Westborough, Mass.

Ingram Micro is introducing remote management services in response to increased demand from its reseller customers. The services will be provided to end users through resellers, with Ingram Micro acting in a marketing and management capacity.