Ingram Micro's Symantec GSA Fulfillment Program Helps Channel Partners Close More Government Sales

Online, June 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - WASHINGTON - Symantec Government Symposium - Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) today announced its Symantec GSA Fulfillment Program is empowering channel partners throughout the U.S. to capture a larger share of government IT spending in 2010.

Available to Ingram Micro solutions providers that are authorized as Gold, Silver or Platinum Symantec partners, the GSA Fulfillment Program makes it easier for Symantec channel partners selling into the U.S. government to purchase products from the GSA schedule. The GSA schedule is a contract listing the prices the federal government has agreed to pay for a vendor's commercial products and services. GSA schedules are a purchasing mechanism for most federal buyers, as well as state and local agencies, and represent an ideal sales and closing vehicle for vendors and distributors.

"With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the Stimulus Bill) in play and the economy making a rebound, the IT industry is preparing for a spike when it comes to the channel's use of the GSA schedule," says Bob Laclede, vice president, new business development, Ingram Micro U.S. "Last year the industry saw a dramatic, double-digit increase in IT GSA schedule usage for software purchases. This year, we're getting out ahead of the federal buying season to drive greater awareness and encourage more channel partners to team with Ingram Micro for their GSA purchasing needs."

"Ingram Micro has the largest and most experienced team of Symantec-dedicated licensing specialists in the IT channel," says Jodi Honore, vice president, vendor management, Ingram Micro U.S. "We have eleven highly trained experts available to support the Symantec GSA Licensing needs of our channel partners, and our Symantec Enterprise Licensing Desk is second to none. Last year, we helped a number of our Symantec channel partners take advantage of the GSA schedule and have seen a notable increase in demand and early successes with the program in 2010."

Originally established in June 2009, the Ingram Micro Symantec GSA Fulfillment Program is unique within the IT channel and one of the programs within Ingram Micro's GovEd Alliance community that focuses on enabling channel partners in the public sector to grow their software and security business.

Under the terms of the program, all GSA quoting, order placement and archiving functions for Symantec GSA purchases are facilitated by the Ingram Micro Symantec Enterprise Licensing Desk.

Partners interested in participating in the program should call their Ingram Micro sales representative, or contact the Symantec GSA Licensing team at (800) 456-8000 ext. 76171 or [email protected].