Arrow Electronics Acquires Shared Technologies

By Charlene O'Hanlon

Top-line distributor Arrow Electronics is purchasing Shared Technologies in a move to that positions the company to move into the unified communications and managed services sectors.

Shared Technologies, based in Coppell, Texas, is a solution and services provider with expertise in unified communications, voice and data technologies, contact center and network security, as well as traditional telephony. It will remain a separate business unit at Arrow but will report to Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions.

This acquisition diversifies Arrows technology portfolio into the unified communications market and creates an entry into the high-growth managed services market,” said Andy Bryant, president of Arrow ECS. Shared Technologies is a leading player in these markets with a highly talented team, deep relationships with suppliers and customers and extensive industry and technical expertise.”

The acquisition bolsters Arrows entry into the communications space, especially unified communications. Shared Technologies brings to the table an expansive level of expertise in UC, which Infonetics Research predicts will top $1 billion in sales in North America alone by 2013.

An Arrow spokesperson said Arrow has not yet made any decisions on how the company plans to leverage Shared Technologies, but noted there will be no collaboration with Arrows solution provider customers. In the future there could be an opportunity for resellers to leverage the [Shared Technologies] relationship, but for now they are remaining separate,” she said.

Arrows foray into the UC and managed services space could potentially bring about channel conflict, as the distributor is seemingly making moves to establish a services business in areas already served by its solution provider customers. Until Arrow has decided how it plans to incorporate Shared Technologies and whether those plans include the channel the channel remains on the outside of the deal.