3/2/98 Bus. Wire 14:28:00 (SEE BOLD)
Business Wire
Copyright (c) 1998, Business Wire
Monday, March 2, 1998
Merisel Inc. Signs Exclusive Agreement to Provide Internet Services through
UUNET's Integrated Solutions Program; Agreement Allows Resellers to Increase
Profits by Selling Services or Referring Clients
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 1998--Merisel Inc.
(Nasdaq:MSEL) Monday announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with
Fairfax, Va.-based UUNET Technologies, a global leader in Internet
communications and a subsidiary of WorldCom Inc., for North American
distribution of Internet-access services to all Merisel resellers.
UUNET's broad range of high-quality Internet-access and Web hosting services
complement Merisel's strategic focus on the Internet market and expand the
distributor's comprehensive offering with a unique range of profit-generating
opportunities for resellers.
"This agreement combines UUNET's industry-leading customer- satisfaction
rating and expansive geographic presence with Merisel's dedicated ISP sales,
LAN/WAN and technical-support teams," said Art Merkin, Merisel's vice
president, Technical Products Division.
"VARs have been requesting a broader and simpler ISP offering, and we're one
of the first to offer it to them. With this agreement, our VARs will receive
best-in-class Internet access and support, regardless of their networking
expertise."
Earlier this year, Merisel was successful in pioneering a partnership with
another leading ISP to meet resellers' needs and provide them with a
competitive advantage in the Internet-services market.
The agreement with UUNET further expands Merisel's offering so that Merisel
VARs and Sun resellers (through MOCA, the Merisel Open Computing Alliance) can
generate revenue by selling the solutions and services themselves as authorized
Merisel/UUNET Solutions Providers, or simply referring clients to UUNET's sales
team in the Client Referral Program.
In either case, resellers can earn commissions up to $3,500, in addition to
ongoing annuities. Resellers can offer their customers UUNET's full line of
Internet connectivity, including ISDN, fractional and full T1, and fractional
T3 access. Merisel will also help facilitate authorization, regional training,
sales tools and support to participating resellers under this agreement.
In addition, Merisel will offer channel-exclusive bundles with key
internetworking vendors like Ascend Communications that offer extensive UUNET
service discounts when bought with these products.
"Our UUNET/Ascend bundle is one great example of how we're making it easy for
resellers," added Merkin. "For the same price a reseller would pay for an
Ascend Pipeline 50, they'll also receive a UUNET bundle that includes free ISDN
access for their end user and more than $2,600 savings in the first year of
service."
Merisel is a leader in the distribution of computer hardware and software
products, with reported 1997 sales of $4.05 billion. Merisel distributes a full
line of 25,000 products and services from the industry's leading manufacturers
to more than 45,000 resellers throughout North America.
In addition, the company provides a full range of customized, value-added
services. Merisel also offers dedicated support to high-end resellers through
the Merisel Open Computing Alliance (MOCA), a specialty division for Sun
Microsystems and third-party products. Merisel's corporate Web site is located
at www.merisel.com.
CONTACT: Merisel Inc., El Segundo Julie Motta, 310/615-
1283 julie.motta@merisel.com 14:13 EST MARCH 2,
1998
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