SCIENCE

Lenovo and SED International Holdings announced that the companies have entered into an agreement under which SED will distribute a selection of Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, ThinkCentre desktops, IdeaPad laptops, Lenovo-branded laptops and options to SED's network of U.S. reseller partners.

"We do the majority of our business through channel partners, and by adding SED International as a new distributor, we're strengthening our commitment to the channel and leveraging SED International's expertise in a market we do not serve today, especially for partners who specialize in small business computing," said Chris Frey, Channel Chief, Lenovo North America. "The Lenovo-SED collaboration can quickly bring them products with the performance, reliability and innovation their customers require."

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) intend to expand their use of technology to improve customer interactions, mobility options and operational efficiencies, according to the Third Annual Small and Medium Business Technology Adoptions Trends study released on July 27, 2011 by CompTIA, the non-profit trade association for the information technology (IT) industry. Seven out of 10 SMBs surveyed said that they expect to increase their technology spending over the next 12 months. A full third of the companies surveyed expect to increase their IT budget by 10 percent or more, and in the aggregate, SMB IT budgets are expected to increase by an average of slightly over five percent. Among the factors driving SMB technology buying decisions over the next 12 months are desires for better network efficiencies and robustness; improved connections with customers online and in a mobile environment; enhanced resource management and tracking; and more business analytics.

"SED is excited about our new relationship with Lenovo," said Jonathan Elster, President and Chief Executive Officer, SED. "We're continually evolving and expanding our line card to better meet the needs of our partners, and this agreement provides an excellent opportunity for SED to showcase its efficient and growing distribution network. We see a lot of opportunity for growth in the SMB space, and our new agreement with Lenovo enables SED to offer our reseller customers serving this market a richer portfolio of products designed specifically to address their SMB clientele's unique needs."

Beginning immediately, products available through SED International include the ThinkPad Edge and SL laptops, designed for customers who want business-class performance, are style-conscious and need these features at an affordable price. Starting around $600, the laptops are equipped with choices of second generation Intel Core processors and include robust multimedia functionality. Lenovo G Series laptops offer essential computing features that will meet virtually any budget, while IdeaPad laptops feature multimedia and entertainment technologies that customers can use for business or enjoy for personal computing. The SED portfolio also includes the ThinkCentre A70z of all-in-one desktop for high performance computing that features a modern, professional design and small footprint, making it ideal for crowded offices.