Designed exclusively for Seagate resellers, the programme enables the company to be more responsive and proactive to the channel's need for information on its products and ultimately to assist resellers in selling those products.

``Due to the tremendous success of the programme in India, we are expanding it across Asia-Pacific. We want to make Seagate the easiest storage company to do business with, by providing resellers with the tools they need and information the way they want it. This programme will benefit both Seagateand our resellers and will expand our presence in the region,'' said Seagate's senior vice-president of international sales and marketing Joel Stead.

Seagate had launched this programme in North America during Comdex 1999 and claims that several thousand resellers worldwide have joined it since then. The backbone of the programme is a Website http://www.reseller.seagate.com which provides Seagate resellers with sales tools, online diagnostics, configuration tools and compatibility guides.

Seagate Partners receive profile-based direct communications from Seagate, which includes new product launch information, events and special promotions. They may also access the Seagate Technology Authorized Reseller Training (START) programme which is free to all registered members.