Avaya To Cut Ingram Micro As U.S. Distributor

Avaya will end its existing U.S. distribution relationship with Ingram Micro, ChannelWeb has learned.

Ingram Micro, which became an Avaya distributor when Avaya acquired the enterprise business of Nortel late last year, will continue to distribute Avaya products in Canada, but its distribution agreement in the U.S. -- where it was a key distributor of Nortel's data portfolio among other former Nortel products -- will end as of June 30.

Avaya did not provide any additional details but confirmed in an e-mail to ChannelWeb that Ingram Micro has indeed been cut. Avaya's chosen distributors in the U.S. going forward are Catalyst Telecom, Westcon Group, Tech Data and Jenne.

"After careful study and assessment, Avaya is moving forward with the optimum mix of distribution," said Avaya in a statement e-mailed to ChannelWeb Tuesday morning. "This mix will provide our partners with streamlined access to the value-add capabilities and tools that these distribution partners can deliver with maximum efficiencies."

"Additionally, we'd like to thank all of the distributors that have supported both Avaya and Nortel and provided service to our VAR community over the years," said Avaya in the statement.

An Ingram Micro spokesperson confirmed that Avaya had notified Ingram it would be deauthorized, and confirmed that Ingram Micro would fulfill Avaya and Nortel-related orders through June 30. The spokesperson also said Ingram Micro had begun to notify its affected VARs."

The confirmation follows a late Monday report from ChannelWeb counterpart CRN Australia that Avaya had cut its distribution relationships with Ingram Micro and Avnet in Australia and New Zealand.

An Avaya spokesperson didn't provide additional information on other international distribution relationships.

Avaya had previously told ChannelWeb that it would make a final decision on its distribution relationships by the end of March. At the time, several Nortel VARs expressed concern to ChannelWeb that cutting either Ingram Micro or Tech Data -- both key distributors for Nortel's data portfolio, especially -- would harm VAR relationships.

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