Tech Data U.S. Launches ``COMET'' Sales, Marketing and Technical Ser

    Business Editors/Technology Editors

    CLEARWATER, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2005--Tech Data Corporation recently introduced COMET, a comprehensive sales, marketing and technical services offering designed to help Cisco Systems resellers more aggressively target the small-to-mid-sized business (SMB) market. In addition to sales and marketing support, COMET offers resellers free accelerated training for Cisco's CallManager Express and VPN/Firewall Express solutions; education on selling managed services and hosted IP communications through third-party providers; and exclusive Advanced Integration Services (AIS) for Cisco products.
    "Tech Data is committed to strengthening the channel by helping resellers capitalize on new market opportunities," said Ken Lamneck, Tech Data's President of the Americas. "A growing number of small and mid-sized businesses in a range of industries are realizing the benefits of adopting IP communications, wireless security and other advanced networking solutions. Through COMET, Tech Data is assisting resellers to take advantage of advanced network-centric opportunities by minimizing the cost, time and resources required to become certified to sell and service these solutions."

    COMET offers Cisco resellers:

    Accelerated Training: CCNA- or CCDA-certified resellers can choose to participate in one of two fast-tracked training sessions to become certified to sell Cisco CallManager Express data, voice and video communications systems and VPN/Firewall Express wireless security products. This training can cost as much as $16,000 per student over 15 days, but COMET's accelerated training is free of charge and cuts the time necessary to complete each course in half.
    Services Seminars: Resellers can learn how to sell hosted IP communications and managed security services without making the considerable investments in infrastructure and employee technical training necessary to provide these solutions themselves. Through COMET's HIPC and MSSP seminars, resellers can engage and partner with Cisco certified third-party providers to offer these services. This enables resellers to sell higher-margin services to new and existing customers while also earning revenue from the related hardware and maintenance contracts.
    Advanced Integration Services (AIS): Another cost-saving service COMET offers resellers is access to Tech Data's exclusive AIS, which enables the distributor to quickly configure an array of Cisco products including routers, switches and CallManager IP telephony servers. AIS utilizes intelligent agent technology in Cisco IOS and Cisco CNS Management products to provide centralized template-based configuration, security features and other customer requirements at dramatically faster rates than traditional manual configurations. AIS configuration fees start as low as $20 for Cisco 800 Series routers; $45 for Cisco 7000 Series routers; and $250 for Cisco CallManager Media Convergence Server series.
    "The SMB market represents a tremendous growth opportunity for our mutual channel partners," said John DiLullo, vice president worldwide distribution at Cisco Systems, Inc. "Tech Data's COMET program gives SMB resellers focused on IP communications and security access to products and technical expertise they need to be successful in this growing market."
    Through COMET, Tech Data also provides resellers with additional support for Cisco's SMARTnet maintenance agreement. For SMARTnet customers, Tech Data can help increase service sales by managing contract renewals through quarterly reports; assist in creating competitive quotes for renewal business; and identify hardware and software sold without SMARTnet support that may require service or upgrade. Resellers also may qualify for extended floorplanning on Cisco purchases.

    Dedicated team of professionals

    Tech Data's award-winning Cisco Systems team has been recognized by the manufacturer for outstanding support in the areas of technical services, e-commerce solutions, inventory management, education and sales. These dedicated teams of specialists cover all aspects of the business including product marketing, purchasing, sales and technical support. For further information call the Cisco Support Team Hotline at 888-213-3630, Option 1, or visit http://www.techdata.com/business/cisco.

    About Tech Data

    Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ:TECD), founded in 1974, is a leading global provider of IT products, logistics management and other value-added services. Ranked 110th on the FORTUNE 500, the company and its subsidiaries serve more than 90,000 technology resellers in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Tech Data's extensive service offering includes pre- and post-sale training and technical support, financing options and configuration services as well as a full range of electronic commerce solutions. The company generated sales of $19.8 billion for its most recent fiscal year, which ended January 31, 2005.

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CONTACT: Tech Data Corporation, Clearwater Jarred LeFebvre, 727-539-7429, ext. 86261 jarred.lefebvre@techdata.com

KEYWORD: FLORIDA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE INTERNET E-COMMERCE PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Tech Data Corporation

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