Channel gets £6.5m fillip from Compaq

Compaq is to pump an extra £6.5 million into ChannelPaq, its channel joint marketing scheme. Just when its resellers were starting to feel out in the cold, Compaq has moved to reassured the channel that it is not out of favour. It may be selling direct from September with its Presario range, but Compaq says it wants to see resellers expand their businesses. The PC giant has therefore announced the cash injection alongside an online marketing support site for the channel. This is designed to help resellers create customised marketing campaigns. Resellers will also get a sneak preview, one month in advance, of Compaq's forthcoming marketing activities. This will help channel partners plan better for upcoming marketing activity, the vendor said. The programme offers cheaper training courses, rental equipment, quarterly awards for resellers and discount cards for all registered sales staff. Nick Offin, Compaq channel business unit director, said: "By offering additional incentives, discounts and training to better support our channel, we continue to bolster our commitment to our channel partners to help them grow their businesses." Compaq also said it had changed its channel accreditation to six "premier leagues", based on how much Compaq kit resellers shift. Dealers will compete for quarterly awards and receive bonus points when they move up in their league. One can only hope that the channel will restrain from kicking the referee and jumping into the tub together afterwards. Earlier this week, Compaq also announced a deal with Lynx technology for desktop maintenance services. Lynx and ComputerAid will take over responsibility for Digital's old multi-vendor maintenance business, offering service and support for hardware with out-of-date warranties. ®