Marlborough, Massachusetts-based Sequoia Systems Inc has taken on a local partner, Tricom Computer Pty Ltd, already its distributor, to strengthen its position in the Pacific Rim. The builder of fault-tolerant Unix machines has joined Tricom to form Sequoia Systems Australia Pty Ltd, which will sell and service the company’s machines throughout the Pacific Rim with a new support centre in Melbourne, Victoria linked to the Sequoia worldwide telemaintenance network. The new company will have exclusive marketing rights to Sequoia computers in Australia and New Zealand, and will be free to compete for business in many other Pacific and Asian countries. Tricom has been a Sequoia distributor for three years, and currently employs 65 people for annual turnover equivalent to $16m. It was born as a management buyout from Tricom Corp, which has now changed its name to Southern Cross Broadcasting. Its other interests include distribution of Sanyo Icon computers, marketing and support of the Pick operating system (as we have remarked before, they are Pick-poppers to a Bruce and Sheila Down Under) and the development and marketing of a library of Unix and Pick applications. It also owns Information Express, which provides equities information for 600 clients and participates in the valuation of $74,000m of assets every day – and is also one of the largest operators of premium rate telephone information services (0055 numbers) in Australia, and is a licensed manufacturer of Brite Voice kit.
