Intel yesterday announced new regional programs, as it pushes with plans to ramp its dual core processor across all platforms using its industry leading 65 nm manufacturing. The company has identified its channel business as a key growth area and, as it sets to embark on its Intel Channel Conferences tour in the Middle East and North Africa next month, said a key element in this strategy is the introduction of the Intel® Channel Partner Program, which will bring new benefits to customers and enable them to enhance their competitiveness in fast developing market segments.
“The customer need today is clearly for technologies that enable more capability, versatility and flexibility” said Maan Ahmadie, Intel’s Sales and Distribution Manager for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, “Intel’s dual core technologies constitute state of the art platforms to support this demand, and our plan is to enable our channel to compete in the market by providing solutions based on the latest, most powerful, platforms”.
Set to be launched on July 1st, the Intel Channel Partner Program is designed to provide resellers with a set of business, technical and marketing benefits that are required to deliver solutions-based platforms in order to grow business and align with the new Intel brand.
• The levels of new membership are:
o Intel® Channel Partner Premier Members, who collaborate with Intel on opportunities and solutions with special access to Intel innovation and support.
o Intel® Channel Partner Associate Member, who grow business through access to Intel innovation and support.
o Intel® Channel Partner Registered Members, who build skills through Intel’s online resources.
“In 2006 we will focus on several new growth initiatives to help the channel become even more successful,” added Ahmadie. As technology evolves and becomes more complex, customers need more than just “boxes.” Intel is driving the industry shift to a focus on platform solutions; and is supporting the channel with benefits that equip them to deliver platform solutions, not just products”
A rich suite of benefits will be made available to program members, such as a redesigned, easier to navigate web portal with content that is personalized to a member’s individual preferences, new online and in-person training to improve technical and business skills, new differentiating logos that help members signal their affiliation with Intel, and increased access to Intel. At associate and premier levels, personal contacts will be assigned to respond to business requirements. Intel is also improving many of the already existing program elements such as simpler access to the new Intel brands through the Intel Inside program, and additional online technical support features.
Ahmadie also discussed Intel’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the growth of mobile computing. At the cornerstone of this effort is the company’s industry-wide initiative to enable standardized components for notebook PCs, now being referred to as the Intel® Interchangeability Initiative.
“As the benefits of mobile computing have grown over the past few years – due in part to the new capabilities introduced by Intel® Centrino® mobile technology – Channel resellers have repeatedly asked for business model characteristics that mirror those of the desktop PC business” said Ahmadie. “This includes both component standards and infrastructure”
Intel’s new, dual-core processors manufactured using the company’s leading 65nm process technology are at the heart of its latest platforms for laptop and desktop computers. They include the Intel® Core™ Duo processor that boasts a unique design with two processors in a package roughly the size of a large postage stamp, coupling new levels of performance with breakthrough energy-efficiency to inspire innovative laptop and PC designs. The Intel Core Duo processor powers Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology.
On the other hand, the Intel® Pentium® D processor is the new, dual-core processor for desktop PCs that can deliver increased performance for multitasking, multi-user and entertainment scenarios, including music downloads, photo and video editing and audio encoding.
About Intel
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
