I too am confused.<br><br>We routinely sell Digium/Asterisk PBX systems to people and I've never had this problem.<br><br>Hardware? <a href="http://voipsupply.com">voipsupply.com</a> (Let's not get in a battle about the best place to purchase stuff from... just find a place you like and that gives you a good discount, and stick with them. We use voipsupply for all hardware).
<br><br>Marketing? Make up your own brochures on why your PBX system is so good, and how it can outperform those others. Not that expensive, especially if you have a colour laser printer.<br><br>Support? Well.. I guess all I can say about this is, learn Asterisk a little better. Business Edition support is great for an end user who is doing it for their business, but hopefully if you are consulting, you know enough about Linux and Asterisk to be able to fix issues when they come up!
<br><br>So, remind me what the problem is again?<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 2/4/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Kim C. Callis</b> <<a href="mailto:kim.callis@gmail.com">kim.callis@gmail.com</a>> wrote:
</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">I was thinking about all of the Digium products that I have either bought for clients or have had the client purchase equipment from Digium, and realized that while there is a big push for reseller and distributors, there is nothing in place for the, for want of better word, interconnect. I find myself jumping on the web, looking at Digium's site for general pricing, and then playing the hunt for what reseller is going to provide me with the best price. I would be nice if there could be some formalized synthesis between the reseller and the consultants.
<br><br>Right now, most consultants more or less stumble into an opportunity. Asterisk has become the watch word as a ton of sometimes clueless CIO types attempt to see how Asterisk fits into the equation. When I go out to pitch a deal, I have to develop my own marketing crap, go and seek out the biggest bang for the smallest buck, and pull rabbits out of my hat. I would really be nice is I could get some of the benefit that Digium offers to resellers and distributors... The reason I bring all of this up is because I went to see what would be needed to get a reseller relationship with Digium. As I started looking at the Q&A, I realized that I would not fit in any sort of way in their requirements. I was also looked at another company (who does not sell any Digium items), which does allow for consultants to receive discounts, does provide some marketing materials, and gives priority for support.
<br><br>Without being arrogant, to some degree, it is the consultants that create the need for Digium hardware! There needs to be some program in place that recognizes that need and creates a program that will support the consultants.
<br><br>Just my $0.02 and anyone is will argue this point... Or not! :)<br><span class="sg"><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Kim C. Callis<br><a href="mailto:kim.callis@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
kim.callis@gmail.com</a><br>_____________________________________
<br>"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly.
<br>Specialization is for insects!"<br>-- Robert A. Heinlein
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