Washington Technology Online Channel News

MicroAge Buys Two Resellers, Distributor

MicroAge Inc., Tempe, Ariz., has acquired two resellers and a distributor in three deals made for stock. The value of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

The company bought Computer Mechanic, New York, and Tempe, Ariz.-based Advanced Information Services Inc., MicroAge officials said. Computer Mechanic had about $70 million in 1997 revenue and Advanced Information Services had about $75 million.

Miami-based distributor InterPC, which had sales of about $105 million in 1997, will expand MicroAge's reach in Latin American countries. InterPC serves more than 2,800 resellers throughout Latin America, including countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.

HP Founds Commerce Center for Small Businesses

Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif., has begun an electronic commerce pilot program that will allow small businesses to purchase products online through HP's reseller channel. The pilot will operate through the HP Commerce Center and will include 12 authorized resellers, such as Computer Biz Inc., Omaha, Neb.; CompUSA Inc., Dallas; Computer Solutions, San Antonio; and Computerland, Boise, Idaho. Through the Commerce Center, customers can perform product research and purchase products such as servers, printers and PCs.

DLT Solutions to Bring CAD to Feds

DLT Solutions Inc., Herndon, Va., has opened a General Services Administration schedule to distribute computer-aided design products from HumanCAD Systems Inc., a subsidiary of BCAM International Inc., Ontario, Canada. HumanCAD specializes in software design tools for ergonomics. Norman Wright, president of HumanCAD, said agencies working on new defense and space vehicle designs will be the primary market for the products.

Digital Commerce Corp. Adds Federal Trading Partners

Digital Commerce Corp., Reston, Va., has signed Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, N.J.; NEC Technologies, Boxboro, Mass.; Data General, Westborough, Mass.; and Shared Technologies Fairchild Telecom Inc., Wethersfield, Conn.; to its FedCenter online marketplace. With the agreements, the companies can place federal contract catalogs on FedCenter's virtual shopping Contract Center. Customers can then shop the contracts online.

Data Fellows Joins Security Alliance

San Jose, Calif.-based Data Fellows has joined the Finjan Java Security Alliance, a coalition of companies led by the Finjan Software Ltd., Netanya, Israel. Finjan is leading an effort to develop secure Java-based Internet technologies. Data Fellows is the first anti-virus company to join the coalition. Other members include Cisco Systems Inc., San Jose, Calif., and Digital Equipment Corp., Maynard, Mass.

CHS Electronics Opens Distribution Centers

CHS Electronics Inc., Miami, has opened two facilities to distribute microcomputer products in Eastern Europe. Distribution centers were opened in Warsaw, Poland, and Budapest, Hungary. "We believe we are the largest distributor of our kind and [this] will help us achieve our $1 billion revenue target in 1998 in the East European region," said Claudio Osorio, chairman and chief executive of CHS. The company also has facilities in the Czech Republic and Russia. Through a German subsidiary, CHS also is assembling PCs to order for Hewlett-Packard.

Software602 Adds U.S. Distributor

Micro Central Inc., Old Bridge, N.J., will distribute products for Software602 Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. Software602 develops Inter-net products that allow multiple users to access the Internet over a single modem while also providing e-mail and security features. The deal with Micro Central is part of Software602's strategy to expand its presence in the United States, company officials said. The company first launched its products five years ago in Europe.

-Nick Wakeman