Microsoft expands distributor network in 33 cities

Software major Microsoft has expanded its distribution capabilities in the country by creating new sub-distributor network in 33 cities as part of its plans to offer Small and Medium Business (SMB) segments' better access to IT solutions.

Microsoft is now present in 16 cities across the country, reaching out to over 200 towns, said Rajeev Mittal, Microsoft India Group Director, Small and Medium Enterprise.

The four million SMBs in India represented 99 per cent of the business and were responsible for generating 50 per cent of the country's GDP, he added.

The economic downturn has brought an additional problem of increasing credit crunch. With the new model, the partners can look for support from the sub-distributors for help with understanding Microsoft policies and products, supply as well as credit, Mittal said.

Operating on a hub and spoke model, this has the capacity to support over 1,800 to 3,500 additional business partners and through this the company hopes to further expand its SMB partner community in India, S Karthikeyan, who has been appointed as sub-distributor here, said in a release.