ChannelTimes.com > News > Others > Partners Fear Losses Due to ELCOT

As an obvious outcome of Acer's agreement to supply notebooks in bulk to Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), the state's channel partners are anticipating a huge loss in their business.

Contextually, with a view to bringing down the Digital Divide in the state, ELCOT has launched its 'Student Laptop Scheme 2008.' Accordingly, students from LKG to Masters Degree in Tamil Nadu (TN), or those waiting for engineering or medical counseling there, can purchase branded laptops from the corporation at low prices.

ELCOT will supply Acer TravelMate with three years warranty, excluding batteries. According to a source, the government is planning to stock this product in 31 district locations.

Such a wide and open distribution of Acer's low-priced notebooks in the state will eat into the market share of the IT channel partners in TN. Karthikeyan, president of the Conglomerate of Channel Associations in TN (Confed-ITA) told Channeltimes (CT) that the channel business will be hampered by the deal. "While the government has agreed to align with the channel for bridging the Digital Divide, Acer has not thought about its channel partners," he said.However, Acer has a different take on this. "Acer has bid for ELCOT order towards ultimate supply of about 1 lakh notebooks for various TN State Govt. Departments, Boards and autonomous Government Bodies at various points in time. The bid does not cover supplies to individuals or Non-government Bodies of TN. This is our understanding as per the terms of the contract. Acer is committed to channels as a part of its business strategy, and will strive not to cause any inconvenience to the partners," said S. Rajendran, chief marketing officer Acer India,

Although, ELCOT has already declared the Student Notebook Computer Scheme through its website and other media, and today is the last date for booking. While ELCOT has not mentioned in its website that the model it is distributing is ACER Travelmate 5720, the fact is apparent from the configuration spelled out. Whereas Acer is claiming that it is supplying notebooks to ELCOT for use in TN government departments.

CT tried to reach C. Umashankar, managing director, ELCOT several times through telephone yesterday and today, however, every time he was not available. Others in ELCOT we contacted remained tight-lipped.

Related Links

ELCOT And Microsoft Form Strategic Alliance

Confed-ITA Seeks Solution to ELCOT Controversy

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Comments

18/08/08 08:40 PM

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ELCOT will supply Acer TravelMate with three years warranty great!!!

- arvind Kumar, Kumar System, Raigad

15/08/08 09:38 PM

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ok but this not fare this is not good for comuputer dealer

- mahesh, dotocom, mysore

15/08/08 08:59 PM

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ok but they have to think about the dealer

- mahesh, dotcom, mysore

15/08/08 08:44 PM

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ab dukan band karna padega

- mahesh, dotcom, mysore

14/08/08 07:20 PM

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Acer peaple they'r Cheated All the dealers (CP). They r bother only their's profit and they'r not sincer to any dealer, when they come to market nobady aware of this ACER product, customer they use to think to purchase this product. We all dealer have made Acer name. But today they have forgoton our effert. But today i am telling my all the dealer to understand we have teach the lesson to Acer Thank you kiran

- kiran, intellect compu, bangalore

15/08/08 08:42 PM

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they have to think about dealer if not we all have to close the shop today they r doing tommaro all the other brand they will do the same thing

- mahesh, dotcom, mysore

14/08/08 07:26 PM

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if i am wrong tell me

- kiran, intellect compu, bangalore

14/08/08 07:01 PM

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Acer always cheated to their CP, now we all dealer have to teach lesson, we should not deal any acer products we should teach lesson to them

- kiran`, scom, bangalore

04/08/08 11:49 AM

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