IBM Corp says two resellers have started shipping the first IBM PCs which they built themselves under the companyÆs Authorized Assembler Program – a policy designed both to cut prices to the customer and IBMÆs own inventory levels. Inacom Corp and CompuCom Systems Inc are now building PCs in a move that will eventually expand to include Netfinity servers and ThinkPad notebook computers. By next month two other IBM business partners Ingram Micro Inc and Pinacor Inc will start shipping products under the new initiative designed to help IBM overcome two major problems (CI No 3,426). The program enables IBM to increase revenues by selling direct to its main customers while enabling resellers to offer lower-cost products and undercut IBMÆs competitors. It also helps avoid the company being left with huge inventories – a problem that has bedeviled rival Compaq Computer Corp (CI No 3,453).
