Western Digital has set up a channel scheme for UK system builders, based up on an existing programme operating in the US, Germany and France.

The Select WD Partner programme gives system builders the opportunity to talk directly to the HDD vendor.

On offer is: "access to a dedicated WD marketing team, listing on the WD website as an official dealer, official certification as a Select WD Partner, regular mailings of technical information and marketing news, individual product training and supply of marketing material".

Also, there's a marketing development fund for resellers meeting sales targets. Disties - CMS Peripherals is WD's main UK wholesaler - the others are AGP, C2000, Karma - will continue to handle product supply.

WD says it may extend the channel prog to "another European country", but not until next year at the earliest. Its decision is led by market-size and channel strength, it says - Germany, where the scheme has operated for several years, and the UK are characterised both by strong channels, according to WD.

WD introduced the Select Partner scheme to France at the end of 2000.

Western Digital is the smallest of the big HDD vendors - hard drives account for 90 per cent of the company's turnover, and NAS and SAN products making up the balance. ®

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