D&H Sees Android-Based Products Coming Of Age In 2011

D&H Distributing Co-President Dan Schwab sees Google Android operating system-based tablets and smartphones making big channel inroads in 2011.

D&H featured a handful of Android based products Tuesday at its Mid-Atlantic 2010 Fall Technology Show at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Penn. Among the products featured at the show: an Android-based tablet from Archos and an Android-based IPTV from InnoDigital.

Those two Android products are only the beginning. Schwab sees Android coming of age for solution providers in 2011. "Today there are a handful of Android based offerings for solution providers," he said. "There will be dozens by mid next year.

"We see a tremendous amount of excitement around Android next year with both tablets and phones," Schwab added. "A lot of vendors are showing us Android products that will launch next year. 2011 is going to be a breakout year for Android in the channel."

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Major notebook players like Lenovo, HP and Toshiba are all expected to bring Android offerings to the market. "A lot of vendors are focused on business level applications for Android," added Schwab."It's going to get real interesting in the second half of next year."

NEXT: The Spark That Will Drive Sales Growth

Schwab says emerging technologies like Android could be the spark that will drive sales growth for solution providers battling a turbulent economy. "Going into 2011 emerging technologies like Android are critical," he said. "It's the kind of opportunity that could be the lynchpin for growth."

D&H's shows are designed to focus on emerging technologies, and this year's show is no exception. In fact, Schwab said the show is a record breaker for emerging technology vendor participation.

The show features an Emerging Technologies Pavilion with the majority of the participants showing their products to partners for the first time. Those vendors include: Aeon Lighting Technology (a.k.a. ALT LED lighting), IS Communications (interactive projector/board systems), New Potato (phones, PDAs), Nokia (phones, PDAs), Interlink Electronics (remote units),Livio (Internet radio), ALTAZ (Internet clock radio/digital photo frame), Gear Head (webcams, peripherals), Pixtree (TV tuners), and XSKN (shells, cases).

"We've always been a leader in emerging technology but this year's show marks the best and most innovative technologies we have ever had," said Schwab.

D&H considers emerging technologies as one of its key differentiators in the small medium business (SMB) solution provider market, said Schwab. "We see this as one of our niches in the distribution channel," he said. "It helps our VARs differentiate themselves against larger competitors and make more margin."