Gateway's latest programme to sell services through its
network of resellers aims to address the needs of its business
customers while the company continues its reformation as a consumer
electronics supplier.
The Gateway Support Services programme will allow Gateway's
ProNet value-added resellers to offer their customers services such
as extended warranties, same day, on-site service and technical
support.
By permitting resellers to offer these services, customers who
purchase Gateway products through a reseller will now have a single
point of contact for both products and services.
Most of attention directed toward Gateway in the past six months
has centered on the company's strategy to sell more consumer
electronics products, such as digital televisions and media PCs.
But Gateway has also attempted to raise the profile of its business
product line over the same period, introducing new server and
storage products and augmenting its services offerings.
Despite that strategy, revenue from professional customers fell
14% in the fourth quarter, compared with the same quarter the
previous year. Gateway had no plans to charge its resellers for the
ability to offer services, but hoped the additional capabilities of
its resellers will convince more customers to purchase hardware
through that channel.
Gateway will continue to offer services directly to business
customers if that is their preference.
Last week Gateway announced plans to acquire eMachines to boost
its sagging PC sales as the consumer electronics market grows.
EMachines builds and sells low-end desktop and notebook PCs to
consumers through retail channels.
Gateway will maintain that distribution network for eMachines
PCs at first, but it is "seriously examining" the possibility of
bringing some of the low-end eMachines desktops over to the
professional side of its business to capitalise on eMachines'
low-cost business model.
Those products would then be sold through Gateway's ProNet
reseller network as well as directly through its website.
Tom Krazit writes for IDG News
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