Intel to appoint `premium GIDs' called Intel Authorized Solution Providers

Intel India has launched a program to upgrade a selected

number of its channel partners known as Genuine Intel Dealers (GIDs) to Intel Authorized

Solution Providers (IASP). The program seeks to make GIDs better equipped to handle the

needs of small and medium businesses using Intel products. The program has already been

initiated in Mumbai and Chennai and should start in Delhi within a month. "The

program requires two technical staff of a GID to be trained by an Intel nominated training

agency so that they can be appointed as Intel certified engineers. Once that is done, the

GID is authorized to call himself an IASP," said Kanwaljit Singh, General

Manager-Marketing, Intel Asia Electronics Inc, describing the selection criteria.

"The IASP tag will give the GID the credibility to position himself as a sort of

premium GID. An IASP is one notch higher than a GID in terms of technical skill,"

Singh revealed.

Apart from training, Intel will also support the IASPs

through special advertising programs and alliances with other partners in the same space.

After Delhi, the program will be gradually rolled out to other metros. Tata Infotech has

been nominated as the training agency for the program. The training will be split into two

streams; processor/system training and networking technologies training. The former will

deal with processor technologies, client server architecture and the basics of networking.

The latter is meant for networking system integrators and focuses on the subject. Intel is

looking to convert 8-10 percent of its GID's nationwide into IASPs. "We have

1,200-1,300 GIDs. If we can get a cream of 100 IASPs nationally, that is a big pool to

work with," said Singh.

The company recently also introduced another fund accrual

program called C-CAP for box processor buyers, which are typically mini OEMs that sell via

their own brand to small businesses. These `mini OEMs' can claim reimbursement from the

fund for brand building or advertising conducted by them. The program is an extension of

the Intel Inside initiative for large OEMs who typically buy processors in bulk, in tray

packaging. Both these initiatives follow the Intel Financial Services program, which got

under way in March this year. The IFS program enabled GIDs to offer financial solutions to

their customers. Intel has tied up with Ceat Financial Services for the program, which is

running in the four metros. "The IFS has not been the biggest success. But, clearly,

we have a very solid grounding there. We believe that financing is going to be a big

driver of growth in India," said Singh.

Interestingly, for most of these programs India has figured

among the first two or three countries where they have been introduced, a clear indication

of the importance of this market for Intel.