Tech Data U.S. Partners with Open Source Unified Communications Provider Fonality

CLEARWATER, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ:TECD) today announced a distribution agreement with Fonality, a leading provider of open source unified communications business systems. Through its Telephony Specialized Business Unit (SBU), Tech Data will offer resellers Fonality’s open source, Hybrid-Hosted^™ solutions, including the trixbox Pro IP-PBX system that provides easily deployed, cost-effective VoIP and unified communications for small and medium businesses (SMBs).

“Fonality enables VARs to offer even their smallest customers the advantages of the latest communications solutions in a hosted and managed model that does not require significant investment in infrastructure or the need for on-site technical support.”

“Awareness about the cost savings and efficiencies gained by VoIP and unified communications continue to grow, especially in the SMB market,” said Tech Data Vice President, Networking Product Marketing Chuck Bartlett. “Fonality enables VARs to offer even their smallest customers the advantages of the latest communications solutions in a hosted and managed model that does not require significant investment in infrastructure or the need for on-site technical support.”

In addition to basic voice, messaging and conferencing capabilities for main office, remote locations and telecommuters, the trixbox Pro enables users to take advantage of more advanced communications capabilities, including Microsoft Outlook and CRM integration, voicemail to e-mail and call center support.

Resellers deploy the trixbox Pro IP-PBX appliance at a customer’s location. Fonality delivers its VoIP and unified communications services via the trixbox Pro, which it remotely manages and monitors on behalf of resellers via its Hybrid-Hosted^™technology. Fonality’s Hybrid-Hosted^™ model provides users with the functionality and reliability of a premise-based unified communications solution through a hosted system that requires little on-site maintenance or support. Fonality provides management services such as 24x7 systems monitoring, automatic software updates, business continuity support, and comprehensive reporting and tracking tools.

“Fonality sees tremendous potential for VoIP and unified communication adoption to continue to grow among SMBs,” said Fonality Vice President John Bazzone. “Fonality provides big business capabilities to the SMB market. Our open source, Hybrid-Hosted approach is a perfect fit for the market and a strong complement to SMB resellers’ solutions offerings. Our partnership with Tech Data will enable us to engage the channel’s leading resellers and expand our presence among small businesses nationwide.”

Fonality will be on hand today to introduce resellers to its products and channel program during Tech Data’s Technology Solutions Tour in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 12-13. The Technology Solutions Tour offers resellers expert-led sessions on growing and managing their businesses, as well as valuable vendor and peer-to-peer engagement opportunities to learn about the latest technologies being deployed in the SMB market.

Fonality is a leader in open source phone systems and contact center solutions for SMBs. Its solutions are supporting more than 5,000 companies with more than 125,000 users in more than 100 countries. To learn more about Fonality solutions available through Tech Data, call the Telephony SBU at 800-237-8931, ext. 79284, or send e-mail to tdtelephony@techdata.com.

Specialized Telephony Solutions

The Tech Data Telephony SBU supports a broad product portfolio that includes VoIP, video conferencing and unified communications hardware and software applications; PBX and IP PBX switches; SIP trunking solutions; and hosted PBX from leading manufacturers. The Telephony SBU is comprised of dedicated sales and technical resources offering resellers the support and expert guidance they need to profitably deliver the latest telephony solutions.

About Tech Data

Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ GS: TECD) is one of the world's largest distributors of technology products from leading IT hardware and software producers. Tech Data serves more than 100,000 IT solution providers in over 100 countries. Every day, these value-added resellers depend on Tech Data to cost-effectively support the technology needs of end users, including small and medium businesses (SMB), large enterprises and government agencies. Ranked 105th on the FORTUNE 500(R), Tech Data generated $23.4 billion in net sales for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2008. To learn more, visit www.techdata.com.