Dell is in the final stages of negotiations with the IT services and solutions provider’s Global Infrastructure Services arm to provide managed services to the region. Currently, Unisys’ work with Dell in Asia is limited to the installation of Dell’s servers and PCs, and training of operators for Dell’s customers.

Janet Wallace, senior vice-president and president, Unisys GIS, has been reported in the local media as saying that the collaboration is likely to cover areas like helpdesk, desk-side support, and network monitoring. Wallace said Unisys is also looking at working with EMC and Dell, which already have a strong partnership, to expand its existing managed services relationship with EMC.

Details of the Unisys and Dell partnership are to be finalized in the coming weeks and it is expected that the deal will be completed by the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, Taiwan based Dell rival Acer has also launched some new services including an e-Caring Security Operation Service, which includes system vulnerability scanning, notification, real-time incident alerts and monthly status reports.

The services part of the e-Caring Service package has been running in Taiwan for three months and has 400 pilot customers. Acer plans to expand the services to China, Thailand, and Europe next year.

Acer chairman and CEO Stan Shih took the opportunity of the launch to attack US based manufacturers that are moving to direct sales in favor of channel partners, in the wake of Dell’s pioneering success with the model. He told local media that HP and IBM have invested in direct sales because it is politically more expedient to downsize the channel than their own internal sales organizations.

This article is based on material originally produced by ComputerWire.