SANTA ANA, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Ingram Micro Inc., (NYSE:IM)
the world's leading wholesale distributor of technology products and services, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with The Baan Company (NASDAQ:BAANF)
. Under the terms of the agreement, Ingram Micro will market and distribute Baan's full line of enterprise business software solutions throughout the United States and Canada to resellers servicing the small to medium enterprise.
Ingram Micro will offer Baan software for Unix and Microsoft NT environments and is the only distributor authorized to pre-configure Baan software with Sun Microsystems hardware. Ingram Micro will help Sun authorized resellers minimize the complexity of implementing enterprise software by providing pre-configured and pre-tested solutions, sizing services, and financing options.
"This is a strategic relationship for Ingram Micro as we work with Baan to bring enterprise software solutions to the market through our resellers," said Mary Galvin, vice president of VAR Sales for Ingram Micro. "By providing Baan services and support to our resellers, we are helping to improve our resellers' position in the market, and in turn grow their business. Baan is dedicated to working with the channel, which allows us to continue to enhance the value-add we bring to our customers."
"The partnership between Ingram Micro and Baan will provide resellers and end-users with a proven enterprise solution engineered for the mid market," said Ulf Claesson, vice president of global channels for Baan. "We are delighted to be working with Ingram Micro because of their experience selling enterprise solutions, unparalleled distribution capabilities and extensive value-added services. Ingram Micro's Frameworks(TM), Total Integration Services gives resellers the ability to order Baan business applications pre- loaded on Sun hardware along with a choice of databases and middleware. For customers, this means fast availability, streamlined implementation, and accelerated return on investment."
Special Offerings for Sun-Authorized Resellers
Baan will work with Ingram Micro to provide additional value-added services and programs to Sun-authorized resellers through Ingram Micro's Sun- dedicated Open Systems Division. The division's Headstart Program helps Sun VARs maximize their business opportunities, with access to:
Baan authorizations; sales and technical training information; installation and configuration support; pre-integrated solutions; and access to business development tools, such as seminars, advertising, end- user leads and direct mail.
David Ochser, Ingram Micro's director of marketing for the Open Systems Division, said, "Baan's strategic relationship with Sun, coupled with their participation in OSD programs, demonstrates their commitment to Sun resellers. We look forward to working with Baan to educate Sun resellers on how Baan software can become an integral part of the reseller's business proposition."
Sun Backs Agreement
Sun Microsystems strongly supports the Ingram Micro/Baan agreement. Said Dick Bowman, Sun's vice president of the U.S. Reseller Channel, "We have a very strong proposition in mid-tier and high end markets with Baan and feel that Ingram Micro will do an excellent job of providing a strong channel growth strategy. As one of our key master resellers, Ingram Micro is investing in efficient ways of providing scalable, customized enterprise level solutions for our resellers."
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Ingram Micro Inc., headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., is the world's leading wholesale distributor of technology products and services, and a leading provider of assembly and integration services, with 1997 sales of more than $16.5 billion. The company and its affiliates operate in 31 countries, distributing more than 145,000 products to more than 100,000 resellers in 120 countries. Ingram Micro can be found at http://www.ingrammicro.com/.
Ingram Micro is a trademark used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. All other logos, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective companies
Source: Ingram Micro, Inc.
Contact: Cindy Ragland, Media Relations of Ingram Micro Inc.,
714-382-3364, cindy.ragland@ingrammicro.com
Website: http://www.ingrammicro.com/