Intel to widen distribution network

Intel, which is keen on increasing PC penetration in the Indian market, is looking to widen its channel network. The company announced its affordable computing solutions for India yesterday. 

Intel embarked on a market development program internally referred to as 'Operation Parivartan' in 2004, aimed at boosting awareness and interest levels on PCs among consumers in B- and C- class towns in India through events. Today, the company has expanded its reach to 480 towns and cities across India and has a network of 2000 Genuine Intel Dealers. 

Now, the company wants to expand the next rung of the network-resellers. “We want to partner with the assembler/reseller community in India. We hope to include around 20,000 IT resellers and expand our reach to 786 Indian cities,” said GB Kumar, director, marketing-South Asia. The resellers would be referred to as Intel associates, he added.

The company is also keen on promoting its new 'Eduwise platform' laptops to schools across India. In the first phase, we will target public and private schools and will be speaking to content providers while in the second phase, we will reach out to other schools,” said Bidisha Nagaraj, Director, Strategic Marketing (Emerging Market Product Group), Intel. 

The company is still working out on business models that would help schools in providing the affordable PCs to students. Eduwise is a small-form factor laptop that has software and hardware features to serve educational needs in developing countries. It is designed for individual students in primary or secondary schools. Systems based on this platform will be shipped starting the first half of 2007.