The VAR500 list details the leading revenue producers among technology integrators and technology solution provider organizations in North America. The list’s ranking is based on gross worldwide revenue of hardware and software sales, as well as earnings from professional and managed information technology (IT) services.

“The VAR500 represents today’s largest and most influential solution providers who collectively generate nearly $600 billion in service, consulting and product revenue. Their business models span the strong regional VAR to the highly specialized players to the global services giants. The VAR500 serve today’s leading businesses whether they are at the top of the Fortune 500 or one of the small businesses that powers the U.S. economy. All of those customers turn to the VAR500 for advice on technology and product selection and ways to improve their business performance. They are the cream of the crop when it comes to the solution provider community. Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer and Cisco’s John Chambers are all highly reliant on the VAR500 to meet their goals. There is no more powerful network in the IT industry today than the VAR500,” said Robert C. DeMarzo, senior vice president and editorial director, Everything Channel.

“We are thrilled to be a new addition to the VAR500 list this year,” said Scott Christian, CEO of Spanlink Communications. “This award highlights our commitment to providing customers with leading business communications solutions and marks another milestone in Spanlink’s partnership with Cisco.”

The complete listing of the VAR500 is published in the May 25, 2009 issue and can be found online at www.channelweb.com.

To be considered for the 2009 ranking of the 500 largest North American solution providers, system integrators, VARs and IT consultants, companies were asked to complete an online questionnaire to determine prequalification. In February 2009, Everything Channel conducted extensive research and analyzed the data. Independent data sourcing (e.g., SEC filings, annual reports, etc.) also was conducted. Finalists were ranked according to their fiscal year 2008 revenue, based only on their reseller-related services business.

About Spanlink Communications, Inc.
Spanlink Communications is a leading provider of unified communications and customer interaction solutions leveraging Cisco’s technology. With 20 years experience and nearly 1,500 sites deployed, Spanlink helps companies exploit the benefits of virtual unified communications networks for business transformation. Spanlink applies expert advising, deployment, integration and managed services to tailor each customer’s solution and support plan to its business needs for transformational business improvements in productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction. Spanlink is a Master certified Cisco partner serving small to mid-size businesses and large enterprises. Find news and information at www.spanlink.com.

Everything Channel (www.everythingchannel.com, www.channelweb.com)
Everything Channel is the one-stop shop for accessing, enabling, managing and accelerating technology sales channels.  From branding and recruiting to marketing and sales, Everything Channel offers technology marketers the unmatched breadth and depth of global brands and market intelligence combined with unparalleled audience loyalty and credibility serving all technology sales channels through an extensive database.  Everything Channel provides innovative field sales and marketing solutions to arm the sellers of technology with the resources they need to achieve measurable and significant results.  

About United Business Media Limited (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)
UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM’s businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists – with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

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