Speaking at the Fujitsu-Siemens Channels Conference last month, Dee Carri of Torque Management said that in an atmosphere that some liked to characterise with the acronym ‘FUD’ (fear, uncertainty and doubt), there were a number of opportunities on the horizon that could mitigate an uncertain business climate.
‘The economy is slow, as we’re all aware and business restrictions on IT spend remain, but there are reasons to be cheerful,’ said Carri.
Increasing governmental and legislative requirements and growing data privacy and security concerns were likely to encourage organisations to strengthen their IT infrastructures.
Carri also said that the Y2K cycle was finally coming to an end with many firms expected to upgrade hardware between now and 2005. A continuing shift towards e-enablement presents opportunities, she said, and there was also potential in linking up with the Government’s EUR 160m metro area networks (MANs) around the country.
Areas of higher growth in 2003 and 2004 would be in security consultancy, external services management, handhelds and security devices, and wireless technologies.
Liam Halpin, Fujitsu-Siemens channel manager, told the conference that there would be a ‘massive growth’ in mobile computing. He added, however, that the industry was not seeing a complete replacement of desktops by notebooks as sales of desktops continue to hold their own.
After the dot.com hype and the subsequent cost-cutting hype, it was now time for ‘real e-business’, he said. Users should not think of IT as purely a business asset, but a means to deliver business value.
Wireless and mobile technologies look set to garner a great deal of attention. ‘By 2008, we will have wireless networks as fast as the wired networks we have now.’ Fujitsu-Siemens also estimated that there will be 140,000 hotspots in Ireland by 2007.
Halpin spoke of WiMax 802.16, a new emerging wireless standard being supported by Fujitsu that can provide high-speed wireless Net connections over a range of 30 miles, which contrasts with the 300 feet available via the popular 802.11 standard.
Liam Halpin also urged hardware resellers to be more confident in doing battle with Dell. ‘Dell’s greatest weapon to the channel is your own fear,’ he said, claiming that Dell’s margins on business sales were considerable, but that its weakest point was in retaining sales accounts. He advised resellers to ‘stay close’ to customers even, if they move to Dell.
26/11/03
Subscribers 0
Fans 0
Followers 0
Followers