Rackspace Strikes Strategic Distribution Deal with Ingram Micro

Hosting and cloud computing provider Rackspace Hosting has signed a distribution agreement with one of the largest technology distributors, Ingram Micro, bringing managed hosting and cloud computing offerings to its growing base of North American channel partners.

According to the Monday announcement at the Ingram Micro Cloud Summit in Dallas, Texas, Ingram Micro's considerable base of Managed Services Providers and Value Added Resellers will now be able to offer Rackspace's portfolio of hosting options via Ingram Micro's new services program, the Seismic Cloud Conduit, which is designed to let channel partners take advantage of and maximize the business opportunities offered by cloud computing.

"As the world's leading technology distributor, it was a natural progression for us to work with Rackspace, a world leader in the hosting and cloud computing industry, and bring to market a best-in-class solution for cloud computing," Justin Crotty, Ingram Micro North America services vice president said in a statement. " By teaming with Rackspace, we are enabling our channel partners to take advantage of the new business opportunities cloud computing brings to the table and raise the bar when it comes to delivering affordable managed IT services."

One of the first hosting providers to offer its services through a traditional distribution model for VARs, resellers and channel partners, Rackspace has a successful channel program with hundreds of partners and resellers and a growing enterprise VAR program that helps established brands enter into the cloud computing space.

The new Ingram Micro relationship will let Rackspace's proven technologies help solutions and services provides embrace the shift in IT to cloud computing and realize new recurring revenue streams.

"We have made significant investments into our channel program, beginning with new partner and reseller programs announced in 2009, and now working with Ingram Micro, we are able to further expand our reach and scale to support Ingram Micro's broad range of channel partners," Rackspace worldwide channel sales vice president Robert Fuller stated. "This relationship opens up a new world of opportunity for MSPs and VARs who have been challenged with how to deliver cloud services and extend the benefits of cloud computing to their customers. We are very pleased to team with Ingram Micro, a world-class distribution organization, to offer the benefits of cloud and managed services to a broad range of partners and enterprises."

As part of the agreement, Rackspace will provide dedicated resources and training to simplify the sales and operations process. As well, it will be participating in a rollout across segments of Ingram Micro's channel partner community that will include seminars, training events and joint work on order process management.

In addition to the reseller relationship, Ingram Micro has also announced a new industry consortium called the Cloud Conduit Advisory Council. As a founding council member, Rackspace will help provide industry best practices for successful services execution and stimulate growth of the overall cloud services market.