Vodafone signs IT distributor agreements

Vodafone has partnered with two of the world's largest IT distributors in an effort to step up its strategy for selling to businesses.

Both Ingram Micro and Tech Data will become channel partners for products such as Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS datacards and Vodafone-specific Blackberrys.

The move isn't a surprise. A month ago rival Orange entered into a relationship with Ingram Micro in Europe with similar aims, most notably trying to reach SMEs through resellers.

Vodafone said in a statement that it is adding channels in addition to its retail stores and direct sales force, trying to reach business customers - an increasingly important market for mobile operators.

It will embark on training and education with the two distributors' sales forces.

But the trend isn't only from mobile telecoms towards IT. In an effort to move further into mobility - especially the nascent smart phone market - IT giant HP last month teamed up with Europe's largest mobile phone distributor, showing the convergence of mobility and IT is being approached from both ends.