A report from IDC said that additional spending by the small and medium enterprises groupings (SMEGs) in the UK is set to benefit the services sector of the channel. The market research demonstrated that Compaq, MS and IBM are considered the most strategic partners for service channel companies, but according to Marianne Kolding, research manager for IDC UK, that should be seen as a warning to other vendors. Research IDC undertook showed that only 50 per cent of respondents were reselling vendors’ packaged services and preferred to sell their own portfolios to SMEG customers. Service Partnering Opportunities in the UK IDC is at 44 +181 987 7100. ®