Having set up a strong value-added reseller and dealer network in the UK over the last few years, Altos Computer Systems Ltd is increasingly looking towards OEM deals for further business – and has now signed Akhter Computers Ltd of Harlow to a contract said to be worth UKP7.5m over the next few years. Part of the recently re-organised Akhter Group Plc (CI No 977), Akhter Computers will use the Altos Series 1000 and 2000 386-based machines to extend its own Regent Series of one to eight user systems, taking it into the eight to 64 user market for the first time. The Altos hardware will be sold under the Sovereign label, and Ahter said it would be now concentrate research and development efforts on products outside the Altos range in order to extend the Sovereign series. Altos UK has an existing OEM agreement with Systime in Leeds, and marketing communications manager Barry Forrest said that the eventual aim was for the company to build shipment levels up in order to make a European manufacturing operation viable. Around 50% of Altos’ business now comes from Europe, claimed Forrest. Altos UK has also introduced the 20MHz version of its top-end 80386-based Series 2000, already out in the States (CI No 975): with 380Mb ESDI disk drive and streamer tape back up the price is UKP41,950. The company has also upgraded its Series 1000 from an eight to sixteen user system, priced at UKP19,450.