MIAMI & CLEARWATER, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ:TECD), a leading distributor of IT products, and Brightstar Corp., a global leader in services and solutions for the wireless industry, today announced they have entered in to an agreement to establish a U.S. joint venture named ActivateIT™ to capitalize on the fast-growing mobility market.
ActivateIT™ will offer Tech Data’s U.S.-based Value Added Resellers (VARs) a centralized and customized Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) under the brand name “TDMobility.” In addition to core services that include helping VARs and their end users with activation and renewal processes, TDMobility powered by ActivateIT™ will provide data services, software, hardware, accessories, technical support, billing management, asset management, and training and installation services. TDMobility will be rolled out to the channel in strategic phases throughout the coming year.
"We are thrilled to be partnering again with Brightstar to form this U.S.-based joint venture, and to accelerate our participation in the U.S. mobility market," stated Robert M. Dutkowsky, Tech Data’s chief executive officer. "It is a continuation of our strategy to use the efficiency and effectiveness of our broadline business to diversify into high-growth specialty areas. The growth in the mobility market, particularly in the SMB space, and our demonstrated success with Brightstar Europe, make this an exciting and value-creating opportunity for our vendor partners, channel partners and shareholders.”
The joint venture will leverage Brightstar’s 2010 acquisition of OTBT, Inc., a wireless reseller solutions provider, that offers a single source for all wireless devices, activation services and software to medium-sized businesses and large enterprises.
“Since acquiring OTBT last year, we have demonstrated the market demand for our activation and billing services that allow our VAR partners to profitably and easily enhance their business offering,” said Marcelo Claure, founder and CEO of Brightstar Corp. “Expanding upon our success in Europe with Tech Data, we plan to scale ActivateIT’s services to Tech Data’s deep and broad VAR channel access.”
“Brightstar and Tech Data bring a new level of wireless distribution expertise to the U.S. market with an offering that is completely unique to this space,” said Charles Kriete, president of ActivateIT™. “The ActivateIT™ offering aligns with the current IT distribution model and will help the VAR community maximize the mobility opportunity that exists through the proliferation of smartphones, tablets and cloud computing.”
“We view TDMobility as an easy and innovative way to extend our reach in the channel, while creating a new and recurring revenue stream,” said Craig Schiefelbein, CEO of Paragon Development Systems, Inc. “We have seen a lot of demand pull for this type of solution from our clients. However, without TDMobility, the solution has been far too complex. TDMobility’s full-suite platform will simplify the management of wireless services in the channel and enable PDS to create a turn-key mobility practice leveraging our deep partnership with Tech Data.”
About Tech Data
Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ GS: TECD) is one of the world’s largest wholesale distributors of technology products. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable over 125,000 resellers in more than 100 countries to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users. Tech Data generated $24.4 billion in net sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, and is ranked 109th on the Fortune 500®. To learn more, visit www.techdata.com.
About Brightstar Corp.
Brightstar is a multi-billion dollar global services company providing solutions to Manufacturers, Operators, Retailers, and Enterprises serving the telecommunications industry. With sales and distribution facilities on six continents, Brightstar offers its customers the largest global reach, enabling the right product to be in the right place, at the right time. For more information on Brightstar, please visit www.brightstarcorp.com.