www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Google Chrome n
With more Chromebooks and Chrome desktop devices being brought to market and sales really taking off in the US, there is rising interest in this pure cloud-based approach to managing apps and data. We spoke to Tech Data’s dedicated Google team about how the market is shaping up.
G
oogle Chrome and Chromebooks have been seen as something of a niche consumer product up to now. But market forecasts indicate that they could
become much more significant. Gartner has forecast that Chromebook sales will almost triple to 14.2 million units worldwide by 2017. It expects global sales of 5.2 million this year, an increase of 79% year-on-year.
In 2013, more than four out of five (82%) of Chromebooks were sold in North America, but now Chrome is ready to shine in other regions it seems. Growing confidence in the cloud and a flurry of great new product releases such as the LG Chromebase (see First Look on page 40), have seen interest mushrooming in all sectors of the market, and especially in education and the public sector.
Tech Data has responded to the growing interest by setting up its own Google team, formed of Business Managers Matt Beresford and Paul Nicholas both of whom have many years experience working in the PC systems and networking divisions, and Google Product Specialist, Tom Baker. Tey are there to help resellers understand Chrome and to develop new opportunities right across the Chrome environment – i.e. with specific Google offerings as well as the Chromebooks and desktop being marketed by brand- name vendors.
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Beresford says: ‘Demand for Chrome is growing and our role is to provide partners with the expertise on everything Chrome. In addition to the hardware, we can also offer a wide range of installation and professional services to those resellers that do not have their own.’
Open and cost-effective
In addition to the LG Chromebase and other devices from the likes of HP, Acer, ASUS and Toshiba, Tech Data is also offering some specific Chrome products, including Chromebox for Meetings and the Chrome Management Console (CMC). Te former is designed to provide high quality, affordable video-conferencing and it’s really impressive, says Beresford. ‘It’s open, works across the web and it is extremely cost-effective, with an RRP of around £1,000. While it’s not necessarily going to replace the VC system in the board room, it’s ideal for all those meeting rooms around the building, or for a smaller business’.
Te CMC solution is an easy to use admin console that enables multiple Chrome devices to be managed across an organisation. It’s easy to see how desirable having that level of control would be, in a school for example, and indeed, it is education that has been driving Chromebook sales in the US. Tat pattern could well be repeated here, says Beresford.
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