The exclusive distributor for e3000 hardware in North America is spreading its business wings further this month to software distribution, as Client Systems signed a strategic alliance with Lund Performance Solutions (www.lund.com, 541.812-7600, HP World booth 926) to be Lund’s master distributor for North America. The arrangement is the first one that enables Client Systems to pre-load Independent Software Vendor (ISV) software products onto new HP e3000s that are being sold by the 38 authorized resellers in North America. Existing reseller arrangements between Lund and its North American channel remain in place, but now the ISV’s products can be ordered at the time of sale of a new e3000, or ordered later on through the customer’s authorized HP reseller. The arrangement also gives Client Systems the right to distribute Lund’s Sun, HP-UX and Windows NT products to authorized North American HP resellers.

In addition to the distribution of Lund tools, Client Systems will provide partners and customers with support options and pre-sale product and technical support, as well as access to professional services offered by Lund Consulting Services. Lund’s customers will continue to contact the company directly on support calls, according to Lund Vice President Andrew Herbert. The alliance gives Lund’s products a higher profile, taking advantage of the Client Systems stable of resellers who are now offering new N-Class and A-Class e3000s.

“We have been very impressed with the quality of service that Client Systems provides their reseller channel,” Herbert said, “and are looking forward to expanding our ability to have our solutions more readily available to the end-user in partnership with Client Systems.” Herbert added that there will be special offerings of its products available only through Client Systems. Software support will also be available in the new Lund channel.

Client Systems President Mike Murphy said the Lund products will be integrated into Quotebuilder, the online quoting application used by its resellers, by August 15. “Our HP e3000 channel partners will realize an even greater value in this new alliance since they will have the ability to add these tools and services to their hardware quotes,” Murphy said, “giving their customers the opportunity to have the Lund software loaded at the time we are integrating and configuring their hardware solution.”

Prices on the nine Lund products for the e3000 will remain the same as those in the ISV’s current channel, and customers can continue to contact Lund directly to purchase products. But the alliance is a new one for Client Systems, which ships about four of every five new HP e3000s in North America. “When we provide a quote, we will provide one for the full solution, and if the customer so desires, we have the capability of loading the software on the box,” Murphy said. “When it gets to the customer site it’s ready to go, and it’s just a matter of activating it.” The master distributor will also provide training to its resellers on the Lund products as part of the deal. Lund’s Professional Services will start out as a referral business through the resellers, rather than a Quotebuilder item.