RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Parallels, a leading hosting and cloud services enablement provider, today announced a significant expansion of its strategic alliance with Ingram Micro Inc., a leading master cloud services aggregator and provider, as well as the world’s largest wholesale technology distributor and a global leader in IT supply-chain and mobile device lifecycle services. As part of the relationship, Ingram Micro will adopt and deploy Parallels Automation as the core service delivery platform for its new global Cloud Marketplace, which was announced today at the Ingram Micro Cloud Summit 2014.
Parallels expanded relationship with Ingram Micro also includes an equity investment by the distribution leader that demonstrates Ingram Micro’s commitment to the platform and the alliance.
By using the Parallels Automation platform, Ingram Micro’s Cloud Marketplace will soon be able to deploy a more comprehensive range of private, public and hybrid cloud services along with a broad range of additional professional services and support capabilities. Today, the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace features more than 70 vendors and 200 cloud solutions and services including domain name management, web hosting and cloud infrastructure services added by its Q3 2013 acquisition of SoftCom Inc., one of the early leaders in the global cloud marketplace.
The alliance between Parallels and Ingram Micro underscores the growing demand for a broad range of cloud services by channel partners and IT professionals. Industry analyst firm IDC predicts SMB spending on cloud solutions alone growing by nearly 20% over the next five years.1 With the addition of SoftCom, Ingram Micro Cloud is now serving businesses in approximately 170 countries and will leverage the Parallels Automation platform to build upon its success and bring to market a global cloud services marketplace.
“As cloud computing moves further into the mainstream, Ingram Micro is ideally positioned to help our channel partners, vendors and IT professionals capitalize on the opportunities and growth potential cloud computing brings to businesses of all sizes,” said Nimesh Dave, executive vice president of Global Cloud Computing, Ingram Micro. “Our people, processes and platform have become clear differentiators for Ingram Micro and the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. This strategic alliance with Parallels will enable us to execute against our vision of a global cloud services marketplace and further empower channel partners and IT professionals with the IT industry’s most in-demand and comprehensive portfolio of turnkey cloud services.”
“Ingram Micro’s decision to base its Cloud Marketplace on Parallels Automation is a strong vote of confidence in Parallels business and the innovation, security and reliability of our cloud services platform,” said Birger Steen, chief executive officer, Parallels. “For the world’s leading technology distributor to make an equity investment in Parallels and work together with us to execute its vision for cloud services enablement both regionally and globally is a significant testimony to Parallels proven approach to successfully delivering and supporting cloud services to businesses of all sizes.”
About Parallels
Parallels® is a global leader in hosting and cloud services enablement and cross-platform solutions. Parallels began operations in 2000 and has developed into a fast-growing software company with more than 900 employees across offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
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About Ingram Micro Inc.
Ingram Micro is the world’s largest wholesale technology distributor and a global leader in IT supply-chain and mobile device lifecycle services. As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics and mobile solutions, technical support, financial services and product aggregation and distribution. The company is the only global broad-based IT distributor, serving approximately 170 countries on six continents with the world’s most comprehensive portfolio of IT products and services. Visit IngramMicro.com.
For more information about Ingram Micro Cloud visit www.ingrammicro.com.
1. “Cloud Services in the MidMarket,” IDC, January 2013.
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