Iomega team up with SIs for value biz

Iomega team up with SIs for value biz

Changing its business

focus from mass market to niche segments, Iomega is adding more thrust to this new initiative by

launching several products this year. The company has recently introduced a

range of new products, mainly in the portable storage and patented REV

(revolutionary removable hard disc drive) segment, besides getting into the

much-hyped NAS market. "We are creating a new layer of channels to handle

this value business and the company would appoint 75 partners across the

country, who will be called as Iomega Value Added Resellers (VARs) in the

market. The new channel team will be in place by early next year," informed

DR Baskaran, Business Development Manager (India & Middle East), Iomega

Pacific Pte Ltd.

In the current channel drive, Iomega will appoint only

solution providers (SIs), to take its products and service in the market.

"We are already working with some system integrators in the country and

now, increasing our focus to enhance relationship. The new set of channel

partners (VARs) would primarily be responsible for our business-to-business

(B2B) products such as REV and NAS boxes," he explained.

On the product side, the company has recently introduced mini

hard disc drive with 4GB and 8GB capacity, mainly as an option to flash drive

devices (such as pen drive). "It is more robust and reliable than flash

drive. The product is designed so attractive and comparatively cheaper than

flash drives," claimed Baskaran.

Iomega also expanded its desktop external hard disc drive

family with the launch of 300GB and 400GB products. This is mainly targeted at

the home and SMB segment. "We have launched MiniMax, mainly for the Mac

environment, while it can be connected to a Windows-based PC too. MiniMax is

available in 160GB and 250GB capacity, and its 6-port (3 USB and 3 firewire)

feature makes it to act as a hub when required," he detailed.

Another major launch this time is Iomega

ScreenPlay. The

innovative product functions more like a jukebox allowing the user to download

large number of movie files and play it by directly connecting to the

television. "It is a compact box with all necessary software in it. All it

needs is just a display unit to watch a movie," quipped Baskaran. The

product is available in two capacities-60GB and 200GB.

The company has meanwhile introduced REV-Autoloaders

(350GB/700GB) in the market. The other two new launches in the REV family are

REV-SCSI (in external family) and REV-SATA (internal).

"Our major bet is on NAS. Though, we are just entering

into the NAS market, we are carrying latest (cutting-edge) products with us.

Iomega NAS 200D series, 200D with REV and NAS 400R are very advanced technology

products. The NAS 400R is unique where you users can store, back-up and archive

in a single box," he added.

With all these products, the company is getting aggressive in

the market and to focus more on B2B segment. It is also setting up a training

center in Bangalore for channels and has appointed a new executive-Manoj

Srinivasan, as manger for technical support.

S Gopikrishna


Chennai