BenQ appoints two award-winning companies for distribution of Joybooks in the UAE

As part of the agreement, Quality Gulf and Almasa Distribution will be responsible for distributing BenQ's Joybook 3000, Joybook 5000 and Joybook 8000 models to resellers. The models, which offer full multi-media functionality and enable users to connect digital equipment and edit video, are BenQ's key products for 2003.

"We're delighted to further extend our relationship with BenQ through our role as key distributor for the innovative Joybook range," said Parvez Ahmed, sales and marketing director, Almasa Distribution.

Almasa Distribution is one of the leading network solutions and hardware distribution specialists in the Middle East, with over 200 employees working across a number of geographic territories. "The Joybook range fills a valuable gap in the Middle East market and we anticipate strong demand for this new product," Ahmed added.

Similarly, executives at Quality Gulf expressed excitement at the potential of working with BenQ to win strong market share for the Joybook range.

"BenQ has established itself well in the Middle East in the past few years as a quality provider of lifestyle technology. The addition of the Joybook range to its line of products will further enhance its role as a major player in the consumer electronics retail market," said Vasant Menghani, managing director, Quality Computers, part of the Quality Gulf Group of Companies.

Both Almasa Distribution and Quality Gulf were recently presented with recognition awards for being outstanding distributors, at the official Joybook launch held at the Emirates Towers' Godolphin Ballroom.

"The growing success of BenQ in the Middle East has been achieved in partnership with our dedicated distributors - including Almasa Distribution and Quality Gulf. When it came to looking for distributors for our new Joybook range, we knew that both of these companies would be able to provide us with the reach across the market, strong relationships and customer service expertise that is required to ensure that the Joybook brand becomes one of the most recognizable on the market," said Manish Bakshi, chief operating officer, BenQ Middle East.

Joybook range offers wide entertainment options in the region
The Joybook models, which are the latest innovation from BenQ, enable users to do a wide array of tasks including: connecting personal digital equipment, editing videos, sharing files and storage functionality.

"Already our distributors are reporting that many people have shown interest in the Joybooks based on the entertainment options they deliver," commented Bakshi.

The Joybook 8000 sports an ultra-bright 15.2" LCD panel, which produces sharp colors ideal for watching videos, and a high performance sound equalizer. It carries a Firewire and has full USB compatibility, enabling it to connect to a broad range of peripherals and devices.

The Joybook 5000 - which includes Intel's latest Centrino mobile technology - enables users to access the Internet and work on the move. Further, the Joybook 5000 includes a 200-nit high brightness LCD display for optimum standards in viewing, while its ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics chip provides the highest standards in 3D animation and gaming.

Also from BenQ's digital hub line is the Joybook 3000 that delivers high-quality audio entertainment. Aimed at music fanatics, the Joybook 3000 can play music without being fully booted up and features audio source accessibility from its front panel. It also features a 15-inch high-brightness screen and a nVIDIA GeForce4 Go 420MB graphic card.

The BenQ products are divided into four primary business units: network display (CRT and LCD monitors), digital media (plasma display, LCD TV and digital projectors), imaging network (CD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive, DVD-ROM drive, Combi drive, DVD+RW drive, multifunctional peripheral, color laser printer, digital camera, scanner, film scanner) and networking & communications (GSM mobile, CDMA mobile, GSM module, Wireless LAN, Ethernet Switch, xDSL Router, Gateway and Ethernet cards).