Linksys Launches New VAR Program For Small Business Market

The Linksys Partner Connection Program provides value pricing, demo discounts, marketing tools and support and training to VARs interested in reselling networking hardware into the small business space. The first phase of the program rolls out to U.S. resellers today. It will be extended to European resellers next week, to Asian and Australian resellers later this month, and to VARs in Japan and Latin America on March 1. The program will be enhanced in phases later through this year.

Under the program, VARs can earn up to five additional points on Business Class products purchased from an authorized Linksys distributor. There will be special technical support available through support centers, toll-free telephone calls and e-mail. The vendors Web site will be used for Web casts, program updates and online e learning for VAR sales people. A channel media campaign, end user marketing campaigns and electronic welcome kits are also part of the new program.

Products covered by the program include 10/100 Ethernet and Gigabyte switches, KVM switches, wireless routers, cards and adapters; print servers; 10/100 and 10/1000 network cards, security solutions; network storage solutions and Internet video cameras.

Next page: Upfront discounts, no volume requirements