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Hitachi Enhances Global Channel Marketing Programs and Signs New EMEA Distributors

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 03:00 CDT

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today announced that it has expanded its distribution network and enhanced its global channel marketing program by launching Hitachi Options, an adaptable and flexible program that fits the needs of various channel audiences. Hitachi Options offers a variety of new technical and marketing support programs so that resellers, system integrators and systems builders worldwide can customize a program to best fit their business needs and stay competitive during this high-growth period for the hard disk drive business.

Hitachi has signed an agreement with Actebis Group to extend the reach of Hitachi's broad hard drive product line in Europe. Actebis Group is one of Europe's largest IT distributors, with offices in 12 countries. Hitachi has also engaged HY Electronics to serve as a distributor in Israel and significantly expand Hitachi's presence in the fast growing region. HY Electronics was selected for its hard drive industry expertise and keen understanding of local IT customer requirements. As one of Israel's leading technology distributors, HY Electronics will further enhance Hitachi's customer service and support capabilities.

"Hitachi's goal is to drive value into the channel by providing innovative tools, expanded resources and incentives to help our channel partners succeed," said Steve Merrifield, senior vice president of sales, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "We have a deep understanding for how different and complex our channel partners are and want to offer them tools that add noticeable value to their business and help them grow market share and speed time to market."

The Hitachi Options Program Includes:

-- LiveChat - Access Hitachi's trained technical support staff via the web site, including channel-specific, multi-language phone assistance. Live Chat provides customers with the flexibility to work in the way that fits them best

-- Pre- and Post Sales Service - Purchases made through the distribution channel offer direct Hitachi support in the pre-sales mode, such as access to the Hitachi CE Design Studios and sample products, and full-scale support after purchases

-- Localized Technical Seminars & Support - Hitachi-hosted seminars on topics affecting local markets and access to Field Application Engineers around the world for hands-on support

-- "2 in a Box" - In addition to an account manager, Hitachi provides customers with a highly technical representative that can help them make better informed purchase decisions. Hitachi's pairing methodology ensures that customers are thoroughly supported through all phases of the procurement process

-- Online Learning & Product Library - Anytime access to AV-based technical training tools, datasheets, detailed product specifications and more

-- Options Rebates - Designed to meet the needs of each customers' business, the rebate program offers partner-specific rebates/incentives direct to Hitachi channel partners

-- Marketing Support - Full-scale marketing support relating to collateral, trade-show support, online document library, marketing funds, customer events and more

Hitachi provides its channel partners with access to the industry's most complete product portfolio by offering hard drives in the one-inch, 1.8-inch, 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch categories. These products provide storage for applications such as MP3 jukeboxes, digital still/video cameras, digital video recorders, PC gaming systems, nearline storage, external storage, mobile phones and more.

To learn more about Hitachi's channel programs, please visit the Hitachi Options website located at www.hitachigst.com/options.

1 gigabyte = 1 billion bytes

About Actebis Group

The Actebis Group is one of the largest distributors in Europe selling information and telecommunications products from over 100 well known vendors such as Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Acer, Intel or Seagate. Alongside the wholesale business, the group offers its IT dealers a wide range of logistics, financial and marketing services. The group conducts business in twelve European core markets with its own companies and reached a turnover of 3.54 billion Euros (net) / 4.2 billion Euros (gross) in its financial year 2004 with 2,200 employees. The parent company, the Actebis Holding GmbH, is 100% owned by the Otto group Hamburg.

About HY Group

HY Electronics & Components LTD. is today at the top level of technology distribution. As a leading Israeli distributor, their business focuses on developing strategies to help their manufacturer partners grow businesses more efficiently and profitably than ever. With keen understanding of local IT marketplace needs, a broad customer reach which spans the near totality of the market and a best-in-class operation respected by the whole industry, HY offers innovative and complete supply chain solutions that build businesses. They are the sole Israeli distributors for L.G. Electronics and Hynix Semi-Conductors and with the opening of the direct relationship with Hitachi they intend to repeat the success they have achieved with other brand names.

About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies was founded in 2003 as a result of the strategic combination of Hitachi's and IBM's storage technology businesses. By the end of 2003, Hitachi GST became the industry's second largest hard disk drive manufacturer in revenue, and maintained that position into 2004.

The company's goal is to enable users to fully engage in the digital lifestyle by providing access to large amounts of storage capacity in formats suitable for the office, on the road and in the home. The company offers customers worldwide a comprehensive range of storage products for desktop computers, high-performance servers and mobile devices. For more information on Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachigst.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 326,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2003 (ended March 31, 2004) consolidated sales totaled 8,632.4 billion yen ($81.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.

Source: Business Wire

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