Channel News

Command Systems has signed an agreement with IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., under which IBM will provide the Farmington, Conn.-based company with hardware, software and programs.

"We are excited about our partnership with IBM as it provides to both our
private- and public-sector customers
a more complete technological solution," said Edward Caputo, president and
chief executive officer of Command
Systems.

Founded in 1985, Command Systems sells a wide range of information technology solutions and services for e-business development. The company's Integrated Solution Strategy provides multisite,
ISO 9001-certified application development and maintenance services that support e-business processes and IT requirements.Distributor Tech Data Corp., Clearwater, Fla., has announced an agreement with Panasonic Personal Computer Co. to provide logistics management and other value-added services for the manufacturer's line of rugged and wireless notebook personal computers.

Tech Data will offer Panasonic's family of Toughbook laptop computers to technology resellers and provide Panasonic customers with marketing support, training, education and technical services.

"This strategic alliance reflects Panasonic's commitment to the reseller channel and underscores the inherent efficiencies and value Tech Data provides to both our vendor partners and reseller customers," said Jerry Labie, Tech Data's senior vice president of marketing.

Panasonic historically has partnered with a limited number of resellers in an effort to maintain focus and integrity, said Rance Poehler, vice president of sales and marketing for Panasonic. "However, based on a continued growth rate of 50 percent annually, the need for further distribution capability is now required," he said.

Panasonic's Toughbook computers are designed to meet the extreme environmental conditions and demands of field professionals in various industries, including engineering and law enforcement. Its parent firm, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan, has annual sales of $72 billion.VeriSign of Mountain View, Calif., and Interliant Inc. of Purchase, N.Y., have signed a strategic agreement to integrate VeriSign's trust services, including Web site digital certificates and payment services, with Interliant's broad line of Web hosting and e-commerce services.

The agreement offers Interliant customers a one-stop procurement approach to deploying secure Web sites that are ready for e-commerce using VeriSign's scalable services, company officials said.

The companies also will collaborate with Network Solutions Inc. of Herndon, Va., to develop a range of e-commerce service offerings for small, medium and large enterprise customers. VeriSign, a security software company, recently announced an agreement to acquire Network Solutions.

"As a longtime partner of Network Solutions and a new partner of VeriSign, we look forward to relying on their trusted Internet infrastructures to open up a new world of opportunity and value for our customers," said Herb Hribar, chief executive officer of Interliant.

Under the alliance, Interliant joins VeriSign's Secure Site ISP/Web Host program as a premier partner and has named VeriSign its preferred provider of trust services for its growing customer base.