Upcoming Meeting Notice

The Association of Service and Computer Dealers International (ASCDI) is a 30 year old, worldwide non-profit organization made up of companies who provide technology solutions, technical support or value added services to the business community.

Members and non-members are invited to learn how to grow your business, find new business opportunities, hear from industry representatives and enjoy some fabulous networking events at our conferences:

REGIONAL MEETING: January 15, 2009
Gaylord Texan Hotel - DALLAS, TEXAS

WINTER CONFERENCE: March 4 - 6, 2009
Hard Rock Hotel - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

EUROPEAN CONFERENCE: June 17 - 19, 2009
Prague, Czech Republic

Click here for more information on ALL ASCDI MEETINGS, to view the agendas, lodging details, attendee lists and to REGISTER AT THE EARLY BIRD RATE.

Meet the new members
ASCDI companies in the news
ASCDI inside
Book review
Continuity
IBM
Intermec
Mitel and Sun
Printers

Meet the new members

The following companies were voted in as new ASCDI Members in December 2008:

Allied Telesis Inc.; USA -  David MacLeod  (Vendor Member)
Automated Systems Design, Inc. dba ASD, Inc.; USA -  Bob Eskew
ComputerPlus Sales & Service, Inc.; USA - David Yarborough
CSU Industries, Inc.; USA - Avram Weissman
Enterprise Business Technologies; USA - Paul Miller
Highsource Technology Co., Ltd.; China - Keynos Shen
Hitachi Capital Service Co., Ltd.; Japan - Kiyomichi Horie
Intratec; Germany - Bettina Wagner
NBP Networks, Inc.; USA - Robb LeBlanc
NCE Computer Group; USA - Keith Ranson (Vendor Member)
Ricom, Inc.; USA - Sean Gallagher
ServiceKey, LLC; USA - Angela Vines (Vendor Member)
Wellington Technologies, Inc.; USA - Joseph Jasko

Wellington Technologies, Inc.
Wellington Technologies, Inc. (WTI) provides lifecycle support services (maintenance, service and support) to users of Hewlett-Packard mid-range and enterprise-level servers.  We combine technical expertise with a network of strategic partnerships to offer our customers a cost-effective complement to OEM service and support.  Founded in 1996, WTI is a privately held company headquartered in Westlake, Ohio.  With expertise in all aspects of HP 3000 and HP 9000 systems (including Superdomes), exceptional training programs and an extensive parts inventory, we provide our customers with tailor-made solutions that enhance both productivity and profitability.   A roster of Fortune 500 accounts and some of the largest system integrators in the industry keep us continually focused on adding value and differentiating ourselves. 
Visit www.wtimaintains.com.^Back To Top

ASCDI companies in the news

TERiX launches storage initiative
TERiX announces TERiXSTORAGE, which will provide comprehensive alternatives to OEM support.  “This is our biggest initiative ever,” said company co-founder and CEO Bernd Appleby.  “TERiX is growing its storage capability internationally and TERiXSTORAGE gives us a much more aggressive approach,” he said.  “We know the needs of Fortune 500-sized data center customers.  They want comprehensive solutions with cost-effective proactive options – TERiXSTORAGE gives them both.”  TERiXSTORAGE incorporates the same support disciplines that have created clear market differentiation for TERiX server support solutions delivered to over 900 customers for the past eleven years.  The difference is that with TERiXSTORAGE there are Proactive Service options (TERiX ProServe) that can add monitoring, heartbeat, analysis and call-home capabilities to standard service level agreement metrics (SLA).  TERiXSTORAGE initial group of remedial and proactive (ProServe) supported platforms are EMC Clariion, Symmetrix, Connectrix and DMX series models, along with several Sun STK platform models.
Visit www.TERiX.com. ^Back To Top

ASCDI inside

Computer and telecom resellers band together to fight counterfeit IT equipment flow
ASCDI and NATD appear before US Government Hearing
The Association of Service and Computer Dealers, International (ASCDI) and the North American Association of Telecommunications Dealers (NATD) have banded together in an effort to work with IT manufacturers and law enforcement to eliminate the increased flow of counterfeit equipment into the IT supply chain.

Background: In 2008, the ASCDI established a Counterfeit Task Force to establish a plan to identify and attack the flow of counterfeit equipment into the computer resale industry.  They were joined by the likes of IBM and the FBI in this effort.  In an effort to broaden the coalition the ASCDI invited the NATD to join the effort.

Recent events: A public hearing on a proposed federal rule to require government agencies to only accept bids from manufacturers or their authorized agents shutting out thousands of secondary market resellers in the process was held on Thursday, December 12th in Washington D.C.  The proposed rule change represents a seismic shift in the federal government’s acquisition practice affecting thousands suppliers of goods and services to the federal government.  A copy of the proposed ruling can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-27275.htm. Most of the 100 people were in attendance at the hearing held at NASA Headquarters were employees of the federal agencies promoting the proposed rule change.  Six presentations were made by the following agencies or organizations: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”); The Society of Automotive Engineers (“SEA”); The Department of Defense (“DOD”); The Department of Commerce; World Data Products, Inc.; ASCDI & NATD.
 
During 6 hours of testimony, no one challenged the need to eliminate counterfeit products.  Rather, the question boiled down to whether, in order to avoid counterfeit products, is it necessary and appropriate to move the federal government to a policy of sole source acquisition for all IT products eliminating competition for price, quality and terms.  Read the ASCDI and NATD position.

The Civil Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council closed the Public Hearing expressing appreciation for the presentations and acknowledged the fact that the proposed rule change was too narrow in focus and did not meet the acquisition needs of all government constituents which may require secondary markets to continue to provide support.

Both ASCDI and NATD have been called upon to submit supplemental public comment by Tuesday, January 20, 2009 together with proposed language addressing the concerns expressed during the hearing.

Contact: For more information about the ASCDI and NATD please go to www.ascdi.com and www.natd.com or contact Joseph Marion at [email protected] or 561-266-9440.
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Book review

Technician’s Guide to Fiber Optics, 4E
There are a lot of good books on the subject of fiber optics. The vast majority of them are highly technical and written by and for engineers or physicists. When it comes to books written for technicians, the pickings are slim. There are some good books about cabling systems that contain a chapter or two about fiber optics, but there are only a very few written exclusively about fiber optics and intended for installers, cable splicers and others who actually do the work. Technicians Guide to Fiber Optics is one of those few.

Written in sparse and plain English, this book is for working folks who need a solid understanding of the subject. I liked the book when I first read it in 2003. I still like it and recommend it highly, but suggest that you buy one copy per workgroup and share it.

Author: Donald J. Sterling, Jr.
Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning (December 2003)
ISBN-10: 1401812708
ISBN-13: 9781401812706
Reviewed by: Ray Horak
Price: $108.95Back To Top

Continuity

Eliminating the pain of data migration failure
Data migration has proven to be one of the greatest threats to continuous applications and data availability.  Statistics show that 75 percent of organizations will suffer an unplanned outage this year and there is an even higher chance if they are executing a data migration operation. A solution exists with the Asempra Business Continuity Server. The BCS is an application-aware solution that recovers critical applications and data for Exchange, SQL or Windows File Servers in just seconds or minutes, well before traditional recovery technologies. With Asempra’s application availability and patent-pending Virtual On-Demand Recovery technology, applications can restart immediately, eliminating the need to wait hours or days for a complete storage recovery for the applications to be restored.  The BCS eliminates the impact of migration-induced server failures with a real-time continuous data protection technology ensures that all data is protected.  Flexible recovery techniques allow roll-back to any point-in-time. And patented event capture and indexing techniques eliminate potential data corruption, so recovered data is 100 percent usable on the first recovery, without the need for lengthy data verification operations that further impact data and application availability.
Visit www.asempra.com.
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IBM

IBM and DeVry University launch new Enterprise Computing track
IBM and DeVry University jointly announced the launch of a new Enterprise Computing track within DeVry University’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) bachelor’s degree program. The new track will provide students with critical computing skills designed to meet the increased demands of IBM clients and Business Partners. The new Enterprise Computing track is planned to be available to DeVry University students beginning in March 2009. DeVry University, a member of the IBM Academic Initiative program, is the first to incorporate multiple IBM Systems technologies into a single degree program track. Through this track, students can gain an understanding of end-to-end systems solutions found in a modern data center, which can help set them apart from their peers. With a solid technical understanding of multiple IBM technologies, this will help DeVry University students be better equipped to compete in a global economy that demands using the latest server technologies to help solve business and energy challenges such as dwindling IT resources and escalating energy costs. This relationship between IBM and DeVry University is part of IBM's continued commitment to work with leading colleges and universities to cultivate and grow opportunities for enterprise systems application developers and programmers.
Visit www.ibm.com/university/academicinitiative/.
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Intermec

Intermec releases first rugged computer and RFID reader deployment kit for Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile
Intermec announced the release of an Intermec Device Deployment Kit to support Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile, making mobile RFID solutions easier for customers and partners to develop, deploy and manage. The deployment kit for BizTalk RFID Mobile extends the management and event processing experience to mobile devices and allows for communication between a server and mobile platforms. Additionally, it gives Microsoft software integration partners the tools that developers need to quickly and easily build plug-and-play vertical market applications. Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile, a platform for Windows Mobile and Windows CE, consists of a runtime engine and tools and components to develop, deploy and manage RFID solutions on mobile devices. Customers can now integrate both fixed and mobile RFID readers into common business processes through the same interface, providing a comprehensive end-to-end platform for real-time decision making by mobile workers. The Intermec Device Deployment Kit for BizTalk RFID Mobile is available as a free download.
Visit www.intermec.com.

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Mitel and Sun

Desktop virtualization delivers quick ROI for both large and small businesses
The move to the world’s first virtualized voice and data desktop is providing businesses globally with unprecedented lower operating costs, simplified IT management, and enhanced security thanks to the global OEM agreement between Mitel and Sun Microsystems. With the combination of Mitel call control on Sun servers and the Mitel Unified IP Client for Sun Ray, Mitel and Sun have delivered the first ultra thin desktop solution, providing a simplified, device-secure authentication source for voice and data hot desking and mobility. In a time where cost savings are sought from many sources within the organization, the combination of the Mitel IP phone with Sun ultra thin Sun Ray client will result in an average power savings of 75 to 90 percent on the desktop from traditional desktop PC and IP phone. The Mitel Unified IP Client for Sun Ray provides employees with the flexibility they need through the use of a single Java card to access all telephony and desktop applications from any Sun Ray location, whether at their desk, another location in the building, at home teleworking, or in a remote office anywhere in the world.
Visit www.mitel.com or www.sun.com.

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Printers

HP placed in Leaders Quadrant for multifunction products and printers in Magic Quadrant report
HP announced industry analyst firm Gartner, Inc. has positioned it in the Leaders Quadrant of its “Magic Quadrant for MFPs and Printers” report. The Gartner Magic Quadrant positions vendors based on their “ability to execute” and their “completeness of vision.” According to the analyst firm, vendors are assessed on weighted criteria including products or services, sales execution and pricing, market responsiveness and track record, marketing execution, customer experience, offering strategy, business model and geographic strategy. According to the report, “Leaders are the most capable in providing MFPs, printers and the associated printing solutions and services that support the proper functioning of these devices in the broadest category of customer sites. Leaders have broad channel capability to deliver the products to customers where they want to procure them. Leaders consistently hold strong market share positions in both printers and MFPs worldwide and are capable of delivering nearly identical service levels in more of the regions where Gartner customers are located. Leaders tend to have the deepest global capability and the inventiveness and resources, skills and vision to deliver superior levels of support to existing and future customers globally. Leaders have a proven track record of channeling R&D initiatives into products and solutions that customers need.”
Visit www.hp.com.
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