Kaviza signs CDG distribution deal

by Stuart Wilson, Wednesday 4 November 2009

The channel expansion follows the recent launch of Kaviza’s VDI-in-a-box 2.0

VDI vendor Kaviza has signed up CDG as a European distribution partner. The channel expansion follows the recent launch of Kaviza’s VDI-in-a-box 2.0 – a product that the vendor claims is the industry’s first and only turnkey solution that enables customers to immediately deploy production-ready virtual desktops for under US$500.

CDG is an established distributor in the Benelux and UK, offering application availability solutions. As part of the new distribution agreement, CDG will engage local partners to develop a network of Kaviza resellers in the UK, Belgium and Luxembourg and will also offer training programmes to help resellers’ clients increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Oren Taylor, sales director at CDG Europe, explained: "We focus on innovation and emerging technologies in the fast-growing virtualisation market, and we are pleased to be aligned with Kaviza."

"Kaviza brings significant value to companies by addressing an unmet market need for a cost-effective, simple-to-deploy VDI solution. We anticipate the interest in desktop virtualization will continue to grow, and Kaviza’s disruptive architecture makes the move to VDI a no-brainer," Taylor added.

Kaviza has established operations in Germany to help meet the rising demand for a simple, cost-effective desktop virtualization solution in Europe. Kaviza’s head of German Operations and former VP, EMEA of Altiris (acquired by Symantec), Volker Wiora, explained: "Though the German region is primed for desktop virtualization, companies have held back due to the high cost and complexity of current offerings. The ease-of-use and affordability of Kaviza’s VDI-in-a-box, coupled with its flexibility to support distributed regional deployments, make it an ideal fit."

Andreas Schöffler, CEO of German Kaviza reseller phi IT Services, said: "Kaviza’s approach to desktop virtualisation gained our attraction immediately as our customers can deploy virtual desktops without noticeable up-front investments, thus shortening the sales cycle significantly."

Kumar K. Goswami, co-founder & CEO at Kaviza, said: "Our partnership with highly-regarded CDG, combined with our infrastructure in Germany and Volker’s vast market expertise, will ensure our channel partners will be supported with significant resources."

Kaviza’s European partners are quickly building customer traction, according to the vendor. Itopia, a UK-based Kaviza reseller, reports customers signing several proof-of-concepts already and discussing pricing.

"Since the recent release, the response has been phenomenal," explained Andy Larkam, CEO at Itopia. "Kaviza is revolutionising desktop virtualisation and we are proud to offer the must-have VDI product of 2010. Our one-month free trial, which incorporates the Kaviza software with relevant hardware, is generating tremendous customer interest."