Distribution Briefs

Tripwire Signs Westcon To Distribute Software

firewall and VPN solutions, adding more security monitoring and reporting features.

Bell Microproducts Expands Business
San Jose, Calif.-based Bell Microproducts, a worldwide distributor of high-technology products,

solutions and services for industrial and commercial markets, last month rolled out a new enterprise solutions division, which will offer customers throughout the Americas a variety of storage and infrastructure solutions. Nick V. Ganio (left), previously group vice president of worldwide sales, marketing, services and business development at Computer Network Technology, was named president of the unit. Ganio will head up the strategic marketing and selling initiatives for enterprise services, products and solutions for resellers. He will also be responsible for several of Bell Microproducts' subsidiaries and solution centers.

GTDC And NPD Intelect Team Up
The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) and NPD Intelect, a market-information provider based in Port Washington, N.Y., have announced plans to provide product sell-through information for the IT and consumer-electronics industries via Intelect's NPD Techworld unit. Sales data will be aggregated from GTDC's North American distribution members. By tracking IT product sales, the new service will help IT manufacturers, resellers and financial analysts get a clearer picture of how the B2B channel is evolving.

Calling All Distributors%85
Planar Systems, a leading developer and marketer of flat-panel information

display systems, is seeking distributors to take its full-featured, flat-panel monitors for desktop, medical, point-of-sale and information-kiosk applications to market. Planar's product line includes desktop models in varying sizes and colors, medical-grade displays and touch-screen displays. The 20-year-old display veteran now holds the No. 1 spot for medically certified monitors in the United States.

ScanSource Buys Bar-Code Distributor
ScanSource, a Greenville, S.C.-based value-added distributor of specialty technology products, has purchased all shares of ABC Technology Distribution, a bar-code and electronic point-of-sale distributor based in England. ABC markets bar-code and point-of-sale products from vendors including Datalogic, Datamax, IBM, Symbol and Zebra. The acquisition was a cash purchase of roughly $2.4 million. ScanSource says the move could enable its European operations to be earnings-neutral by September.

Tech Data Announces New Leasing Program
Tech Data, a Clearwater, Fla.-based worldwide provider of IT products, logistics management and other value-added services, completed an agreement that permits its resellers to provide additional leasing and credit options to its customers through American Express Business Finance. Resellers will be able to customize technology-equipment leasing programs, with credit terms up to $250,000, and grant instant credit approval based on information the customer provides in an application, eliminating the need to provide financial statements. Resellers can also access new tools, such as an online lease calculator that lets them view their customers' lease and payment information on the Web.