News

Westcon Group Announces “Westcon Academy—Technology Fundamentals,” Bringing Modular Technology Training to Channel Partners

London, May 6, 2008 - Westcon Group, the leading specialty distributor in networking, convergence, security and mobility, announced that it has introduced Technology Fundamentals training as an enhancement to its portfolio of training services available to its European wide reseller base. Focussed on the sales community--or pre-sales staff as a pre-cursor to vendor certification training--Academy Fundamentals is designed to enable low cost entry to adjacent technology segments for Westcon Group channel partners.

The training program consists of eight modules covering the following areas: data, voice, IP telephony, hosted IP telephony, security, wireless networks, hosted IP telephony and Unified Communications. Further modules including SIP will also be available in the coming months.

“To succeed in today’s converging IT / communications environment, resellers need to be fluent in multiple technologies otherwise they risk leaving money on the table,” said Guy Koster, VP, Technology Solutions Group at Westcon Group. “Being able to propose and deliver solutions encompassing multiple technology disciplines that can positively impact business performance is key—these include VoIP, security, wireless technology and unified communications among others. Our resellers are already recognising this need and as a value added distribution partner we intend to play our full part in driving and enabling these enhancements to the channels’ capabilities.”

“In recognition of the changing technology and customer landscape Westcon Group is also making the Academy Fundamentals training modules available to its own staff enabling an enhanced level of customer interaction and capability,” he added.

Westcon Academy courses are flexible to the time constraints of the reseller and can be delivered on or off-site as either half day or full day sessions. Resellers can attend any of the training modules as required or move on to other technology areas at their own pace. Becoming better versed in adjacent, or non-core, technologies, means resellers are better equipped to navigate and up-sell during the sales process.

Peter Moore, Managing Director of More IP Solutions, a Macclesfield, UK based reseller, commented: “Being able to deliver solutions spanning multiple technologies directly correlates to increased business opportunity. In Westcon, we have a partner who not only provides training on the technologies that matter, but one who also delivers the products and solutions that set us apart from our competition. “

Westcon Academy technology fundamentals training are available for booking by contacting your local account representative.

About Westcon Group
Westcon Group, Inc. is the leading specialty distributor in networking, security, mobility and convergence for leading technology vendors, including Cisco, Nortel, Avaya and Polycom. Through its Westcon and Comstor business practices, Westcon Group sells products and services to resellers, systems integrators and service providers. Westcon Group has particular expertise in the convergence of voice, data and video applications and technologies, including voice-over Internet protocol, or VoIP, security for networking and communications systems, remote access, Internet and e-business, virtual private networks, videoconferencing and wireless connectivity. For more information, visit www.westcongroup.com.