Avantis Plc, the UK start up that specializes in the development of multimedia network storage products is about to embark on its first entry in to the US market. The company has struck its first US distributor deal with Minneapolis-based Peripheral Technology Group, which will start selling Avantis’ CDServe product range as of April 1. The company is in talks with other distributors and hopes to have three signed up in the US by the summer. The next stage for Avantis, which came to life in January 1996, will be to establish its own office in the US. Legally, Avantis Inc already exists but the company is still deciding where it wants to be located. According to the company’s director of sales and marketing, Trevor Duplock, the west coast looks the most likely option at the moment. It has been a busy year already for Avantis, which after the signing of two new German distributors, it now has 17 companies across the world distributing its products. In January the company decamped from its headquarters in Luton to new offices in Bracknell. Duplock said it moved because it needed more space, but also because it wanted to be nearer to major customers and resellers like ICL. This year is also likely to see Avantis establish an office in Germany, and towards the end of the year, it will start recruiting more staff for its UK operation. Last November Avantis announced a new audio version of its CDServe product targeted at jukebox use, music studios and as CD browsing devices in large music stores. The company wants to sell the CDServe audio product on an Original Equipment Manufacturer basis, and it is talking to likely candidates at the moment. But the product has been put on the back burner for the time being, while Avantis concentrates on the potential to be gained from the UK Government education initiative The National Grid for Learning. Duplock comments: We are run off our feet at the moment.
