Autocrat expands

Press, 19 July 1983, Page 25

Autocrat expands

By

SIMON COLLINS,

A major electronics company, Autocrat Sanyo, has bought 50 per cent of a second New Zealand computer company, in one of a series of major shake-ups in the computer business in the last fortnight. Autocrat Sanyo, which already sells its own Sanyo small business computers, bought 50 per cent of Access Data, Ltd, in February. Access was then distributor of

BBC Access, and Altos computers. It has now acquired 50 per cent of the New Zealand arm of the BBC master distributor in Australia and New Zealand, Barson Computers. Barson’s New Zealand managing director, Mr D. M. Pauling, who is also Autocrat Sanyo’s general manager of electronic products, said he had sold his own shares in Barson, but ■would continue as managing director.

Barson Computers Australia, which had held 25 per cent of the New Zealand company, was likely to increase its share to 50 per cent.

He said the agreement for Access Data to distribute the BBC had been terminated by mutual agreement on June 30. “This allows Access Data to place its resources in the business computer market and develop its Access and Altos range and associated software,” Mr Pauling said. However, disc drive controllers for the BBC would have to remain on an allocation basis through August.

It would continue to be sold through Whitcoulls and 10 independent dealers, while schools would now be served by Whitcoulls and Barson Computers itself. Meanwhile, a popular cheaper microcomputer, owned by the American

of the “New Zealand Herald”

Tandy group, Radio Shack, has been relinquished by the former New Zealand agent, David Reid Data Products. The company's marketing manager, Mr Robert Lowe, said David Reid wished to pursue other business areas, including the manufacture of its own Q-series computers.

Radio Shack products will now be marketed by separate regional agents. In the Auckland area, Porterfield Computers in Dominion Road has taken over the agency.

Another home computer, the Commodore VIC 20, which has already sold 3000 units now priced at $595, is to be' “mass-marketed” through almost 400 shops by Fountain Marketing, Ltd, a. wholly owned subsidiary of Chase Corporation. Commodore’s New Zealand managing director, Mr C. R. Anderson, said he hoped the deal would help to sell up to 10,000 VIC 20s this year. Fountain already sells video cartridges and recorders, audio equipment, microwave ovens and other “brown goods.” New Zealand’s largest company, Fletcher Challenge, is also rethinking its computer agency business. It is in the process of divesting itself of its hardware agencies, including the Facom aftd Sord agencies.