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CNET Channel, Azerty and United Stationers Partner to Expand VAR Offerings

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 December 2003, 06:00 CST

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2003--CNET Channel, a subsidiary of CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) and Azerty, a division of United Stationers (Nasdaq:USTR), today announced a partnership agreement to expand their respective presence in the fast growing Value-Added Reseller (VAR) channel. Under the agreement, Azerty will become a supported supplier within ChannelOnline(TM), CNET Channel's Web-based sales cycle automation platform for VARs. This will enable VAR customers of Azerty and United to source and order a myriad of supplies, peripherals and computer products electronically through ChannelOnline, while offering ChannelOnline customers direct access to a leading distributor of office products and consumables.

"We are pleased to partner with CNET Channel and to present our products to their current ChannelOnline community," said Jeff Willis, VP Category Management, Technology Products for Azerty & United Stationers. "We know that there's a strong demand for this kind of online solution among our customers, and we are confident that it will prove to be an extremely valuable tool. This agreement gives us the opportunity to expand our sales in the channel, recruiting new resellers from ChannelOnline's large customer base, while helping our existing VAR customers run their businesses more effectively by increasing their accessories and supplies sales to their clients."

Azerty distributes computer products and supplies through the United Stationers distribution network. By leveraging the electronic ordering capabilities of ChannelOnline, Azerty will support next-day orders and drop-ship to VAR client locations if requested. Simplified order fulfillment will allow VARs to expand their services to customers without having to worry about increasing their own customer support infrastructure.

"CNET Channel's coverage of the VAR market allows Azerty to rapidly expand its penetration of this market without incurring massive expenses," said Jean-Francois Guyomar, senior vice president of sales, CNET Channel. "Azerty and United deliver a variety of supplies and other items that can become annuity streams to VARs beyond the initial hardware sale, something that VARs now can capitalize on through the ease of our ChannelOnline offering."

CNET Channel's ChannelOnline solution (www.channelonline.com), gives VARs total management control over their sales cycle by automating key business processes and interactions with suppliers and customers. Participating distributors can use ChannelOnline as an electronic interface to publish their product catalogs and real-time pricing and availability information as well as give VARs the ability to easily submit electronic purchase orders and access a real-time tracking system.

About Azerty and United

Recently named a Top 10 technology distributor by VAR Business, Azerty currently ships product from 14 United Stationers distribution centers located strategically throughout the country in order to accommodate next-day delivery in most major markets. The company also has significant drop ship capabilities. With operations in Mexico and Canada, Azerty is a primary provider of fulfillment solutions and innovative marketing programs to resellers of computer supplies and computer hardware across multiple end-consumer vertical channels. Azerty is committed to the VAR community, as evidenced by their development of a VAR-specific web site that contains updated channel information. For more information on this program, visit www.azerty.com/VARZone. Azerty is a division of United Stationers (Nasdaq:USTR), North America's largest broad line distributor of business products and a provider of marketing and logistics services to resellers.

About CNET Channel

CNET Channel (www.cnetchannel.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of CNET Networks, is a leading provider of structured and standardized electronic product information. Built around this core information, its complete range of online services and solutions related to catalog maintenance, product content delivery, channel relationship management as well as sales cycle automation enable the IT channel industry to conduct frictionless channel business while optimizing their customer and supplier relationships.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a leading global media company informing and connecting buyers, users and sellers of personal technology, business technology, and games and entertainment. Known for its editorial expertise, CNET Networks combines its award winning content with the power of interactive technology to provide its users an intuitive, dynamic and relevant environment. The company's content portfolio features top brands including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, GameSpot, and mySimon, as well as Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the U.S., Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 12 countries.

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