VAR Magazine

DYNABOOK HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING A SECURE FOOTING

Dynabook is a brand that is 100% focused on the B2B customer, with products that are specifically engineered for mobility and performance and designed to deliver a seamless user experience within the hybrid working environment. Our latest devices range from our slim and lightweight, premium Portégé units powered by the latest 12th generation Intel Core processors, to the 14” Tecra A40-K and the 15” Tecra A50-K notebooks designed to address all the needs of the modern,

Alex Malienko Business Unit Director MEA & Eastern Europe, Dynabook Europe GmbH

VAR Magazine got in touch with Alex MalienkoBusiness Unit Director Middle East, Africa & Eastern Europe, Dynabook Europe GmbH to get insights about the company.

Dear Reader, Hope you had a successful 2022!

VAR Magazine has been the flagship brand of JNS media, since 2005. The mission of the VAR magazine is to engage and inform readers about the latest news and information on product launches, electronic product sales, and the marketing cycles of various brands. In its new format, VAR magazine aspires to be the definitive resource for commercial and utility products in the categories of electronics, surveillance & security, mobility, accessories, imaging devices, and IT products and peripherals.

We have included informative interviews with the leaders of well-known brands on how they plan to partner and expand their business in the MEA region in this edition of the VAR Magazine. The editions of the VAR magazine also include informative articles and important press releases.

The COC Awards ceremony will take place in May 2023!

VAR COC Awards has had ten successful editions since 2007. This is the region’s first award for ICT Channel.

Also, we have the VAR conclave platform which is an effective networking forum that will power and connect you with the industry’s resellers, distributors, traders, and other channel leaders.

Apart from these platforms, our digital social forums and VARonline.com can also be used to scale up your brand and generate revenue and awareness. We promise to bring you the most lucid assessments and predictions of where eCommerce is headed in future editions of this Magazine.

Our strong and dependable networks can provide you with the best resources and tools to beat the market competition, so we look forward to collaborating with you soon!

Season’s greetings and best wishes in advance for the New Year!

Publisher Vivek Sharma

INTEL LEADS INDUSTRY WITH NEXT-GENERATION THUNDERBOLT

Intel has demonstrated an early prototype of next-generation Thunderbolt in action, aligned to the USB Implementers Forum’s release of the USB4 v2 specification today. Next-generation Thunderbolt will deliver 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bi-directional bandwidth and enable up to 120 Gbps for the best display experience, providing up to three times the capability of today’s technologies to meet the growing needs of content creators and gamers, all while maintaining compatibility with previous versions of Thunderbolt and USB.

This prototype demonstration marks a major milestone in the journey to delivering next-generation Thunderbolt to the industry. The bandwidth needs of content creators and gamers are increasing significantly for high-resolution displays, low-latency visuals, and the backup or transfer of huge video and data files. Next-generation Thunderbolt will deliver up to three times the capability of Thunderbolt 4 and make creating and gaming more efficient and immersive. In addition to supporting the latest version of USB4, the next generation of Thunderbolt will include improvements across a variety of areas including:

• Two times the total bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4 to 80 Gbps, while providing up to three times the bandwidth to 120 Gbps for video-intensive usages.

• Support for the newly released DisplayPort 2.1 for the best display experience.

“Intel has always been the industry pioneer and leader for wired connectivity solutions, and Thunderbolt is now the mainstream port on mobile PCs and integrated into three generations of Intel mobile CPUs. We’re very excited to lead the industry forward with the next generation of Thunderbolt built on the USB4 v2 specification, advanced to this next generation by Intel and other USB Promoter Group members.”

- Jason Ziller, General Manager of the Client Connectivity Division at Intel

• Two times the PCI Express data throughput for faster storage and external graphics.

• Works with existing passive cables up to 1m via a new signaling technology.

• Compatible with previous versions of Thunderbolt, USB, and DisplayPort.

• Supported by Intel’s enabling and certification programs.

With the vision to make Thunderbolt available to everyone, Intel contributed its Thunderbolt protocol specification to the USB Promoter Group in 2019, which served as the basis for USB4. As a leader

in this industry group, Intel has worked to extend the performance of USB4 to the next level.

Intel has a long history of leading the industry in input/output innovation. Intel works closely with PC, accessory, and cable partners to deliver the most advanced and complete wired connectivity solution through dedicated enabling and testing programs. All Thunderbolt products undergo stringent certification testing, and upon passing can use the Thunderbolt name and logo royalty-free on devices or in marketing. That’s why the Thunderbolt logo provides a simple, easily recognized indicator of the best-wired connectivity solutions for PCs and accessories.

Jason Ziller

General Manager of the Client Connectivity Division, Intel

EXPERIENCE THE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Today, professionals are using more and more accessories and peripherals for their computers. It is important to be able to keep up with this trend by offering solutions that are within everyone’s reach. That’s the reason why PORT Connect offers a wide range of IT accessories adapted to the needs of professionals such as solutions

for connectivity, ergonomics, and mobility.

The 901910-UK Docking Station has been developed especially for professionals. It allows to connect up to 9 peripherals simultaneously via a single USB-C port of your notebook and offers advanced performance.

TO 4K UHD DISPLAYS

Equipped with two DisplayPort™ ports and an HDMI, it can display screens up to 4K UHD resolution.

Featuring DisplayPort™ Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology, two displaying options are available:

1. Two additional displays (with laptop screen)

2. Three additional displays (without laptop screen)

ULTRA-FAST DATA TRANSFER

The three USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports make it easy to transfer files or information in a wink with a speed up to 5Gb/s. Even faster, its USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port allows charge and data transfer up to 10Gb/s. It also includes an RJ-45 socket granting high speed wired connection to the Internet and a combo Jack port for voice and sound transmission.

A POWERFUL AND UNIVERSAL SOLUTION

Fully universal, this docking station can be connected to PCs, Macs® and Chromebooks™ via an included 1-meter-long USB-C to USB-C cable. It charges even the most power consuming laptops up to 85W via its USB-C Power Delivery™ port.

HIGHLY SECURED

You can prevent the device to be stolen thanks to its integrated standard security slot in which a security cable can be added.

Allowing Mac Address Pass Through, PXE Boot & Wake On LAN, it ensures high security in a business environment.

30 YEARS OF EXPERTISE

Cherry on the cake, an included tripod helps to place the docking in a vertical position to save space and have easier access to the connectors.

PORT is a French company founded in 1992 and one of the world’s leading players in IT luggage and accessories. Today distributed in more than 60 countries worldwide, the company offers a complete range of products under the PORT Designs and PORT Connect brands, which meet the needs of the market. Its team of experts uses its know-how to provide innovative solutions for protection, mobility, and connectivity. The improvement of the user experience is at the heart of the company’s concerns.

Take a look to PORTDESIGNS.COM to discover all the solutions for IT luggage and accessories.

DYNABOOK HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING A SECURE FOOTING

• Super compact, at only 1kg in weight, boasting an ultralight magnesium alloy chassis for the perfect balance between durability, lightness, and strength.

• With a fingerprint reader in the power button, users can start work in a matter of seconds, bringing enhanced speed and agility to the working day.

• Backlit keyboard has large spill-resistant keys, with dedicated keys allowing easy access to video conferencing functions.

• Robustness in the face of drops, extreme temperatures, shock, vibration, dust, and other tough conditions.

• Audio visual tools that are supercharged with AI.

• For extended use, the Eyesafe® Certified Display helps protect users by reducing the amount of blue light exposure while at the same time maintaining vivid colour.

• Engineered to exceed Intel®’s exacting Evo™ classification, to handle the most intensive of business tasks, accommodates 1TB storage, and an impressive 11-hours battery life, easily powering users throughout an entire working day.

• It delivers uncompromising security easily meeting Microsoft’s Secured-core device requirements.

How are you planning to expand your market in the MENA region?

flexible worker with, for example, AI noise reduction and camera features which optimise virtual meetings. At the other end of the spectrum, we have the Satellite Pro C30-K which, with its affordable price point, is the perfect fit for the SMB and education markets. We also carry a sizeable choice of accessories.

If you’ll allow me to highlight one of our current hero products, the Portege X40L-K. It delivers a range of exceptional features packed into an ultra-slim design that effortlessly meets the demanding requirements associated with flexible working.

Now that we have built a dedicated Sales, Marketing and After Sales corporate team for the region, our focus continues to be to enhance our three core markets of UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which are the most active M&A markets in the region, with massive growth predicted in GDP, especially in Saudi Arabia with their ambitious Vision 2030 plans in various stages of development.

We are working closely with our channel partners to leverage these opportunities and are aiming to build on our existing network to have a complete two-tier MEA market structure.

For the past year, we have been expanding and are now further enhancing our geographical presence in the wider GCC region and parts of Africa and the CIS countries.

Alex Malienko Business Unit Director MEA & Eastern Europe, Dynabook Europe GmbH

Tell us about the acquisition with Toshiba and how Dynabook came into being?

Well as I’m sure you are aware, in the beginning, Toshiba developed the world’s first commercial laptop computer - the T1100 - in 1985, and the world’s first notebook computer – the Dynabook J-3100 SS001 - in 1989. These two portable computing innovations allowed people to work anywhere safely and securely they wanted and defined today’s mobile computing market. Toshiba has had a tradition of consistently achieving industry firsts throughout the decades, consistently delivering award winning innovative products and services that integrate the latest technology and design, whilst delivering outstanding quality and reliability.

continued commitment to innovation. We need to continue to develop brand awareness and drive brand trust, as it is integral to how we are perceived by our partners and customers. In the last 3-4 years we’ve fine-tuned our brand and discovered what works for us: remaining 100% dedicated to the channel, putting people at the heart of what we do, continually striving to develop quality new technologies, and optimising our processes, from design and testing through to customer support.

Our vision is to further develop the below sectors:

EDUCATION

Our heritage within the education space dates back over 30 years and is built on a combination of strong relationships and innovative, budget-friendly devices. Microsoft selected the Satellite Pro E10-S to be one of the first devices globally to run the education-focused Windows 11 SE. This is testament to our industry-leading reputation in this market. We understand that every school, college and university is unique. That’s why we’ve developed a varied range of laptops and tablets for every aspect of education, designed to bring the very best out in students, teachers and administrators.

CHANNEL

When the transition to Dynabook took place, we continued the Toshiba tradition of firsts by developing, among others, the world’s thinnest and lightest hybrid laptop with – Portégé X30W-J - in 2020. However, under Toshiba the company primarily focused on the consumer business whereas Dynabook’s strategy is 100 percent B2B.

The Dynabook business is underpinned by our culture and values which remain consistent and strong through our highly skilled and knowledgeable people, our award-winning products, our obsession with quality, security, and innovation, and our emphasis on trust and building long standing partnerships.

Regionally we’ve made significant movements too, investing and strengthening our team across the Middle East, Africa, CIS and Eastern Europe.

Elaborate on the business plans for the year 2023, what areas and industries would you be focusing on more?

The future of Dynabook will be focused on brand building and a

Dynabook has always been, and remains, a 100% channel-focused business. While we’re backed by the technological innovation and global manufacturing power of Sharp, we remain a people and relationship focused company that is nimble and flexible to partner and customer needs. The combination of the two enables us to work towards bespoke partner programmes, built on delivering a tailored service, specific to helping our channel partners grow their business.

COMMERCIAL/CORPORATE

Within the commercial space, we’ve expanded to now offer our most comprehensive and varied range of business devices ever. From ultra-mobile two-in-ones to budget-conscious all-rounders, we truly offer a device for every worker and organisation, regardless of size or sector. We also understand the challenges of fleet manageability, particularly in this landscape of hybrid working. With remote access control, as well as common software, docking and accessories across our range, we ensure a simple management process for IT teams while enabling flexibility of choice across our range.

“We are working closely with our channel partners to leverage these opportunities and are aiming to build on our existing network to have a complete two-tier MEA market structure.”

ENHANCE YOUR LIFESTYLE WITH GALAXY FOLDABLES

It has been said foldables bring back a nostalgic touch to them, but more than that, they can enhance lifestyles as they become packed with next-generation capabilities. The new Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 build on the success of Samsung’s iconic form factor, adding key features, including an upgraded camera experience, a larger battery, and expanded customization, while enhancing users’ favorite features, making the new series the ultimate tool for self-expression. More than that, Samsung has enhanced its color palette, making the Galaxy Z Flip4 available in Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, and Blue whilst showcasing Graygreen, Beige, and Phantom Black to the Galaxy Z Fold4 portfolio offerings.

Galaxy Z Flip4: Its compact clamshell design offers unique experiences. Users can shoot hands-free videos or capture full group selfies at various angles by partially folding the Galaxy Z Flip4 to activate FlexCam. Thanks to Samsung’s partnership with

Meta, FlexCam is optimized for the most popular social platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. With Super-Fast Charging, now supported on Galaxy Z Flip4, it can charge up to 50 percent in around 30 minutes, keeping users connected when they’re running low.

Galaxy Z Fold4: It’s the first device to ship with Android 12L, a special version of Android created by Google for large-screen experiences, including foldables. Users’ multitasking experience is complete with S Pen functionality, enabling on-the-go drawing and notetaking with streamlined storage inside the Standing Cover with Pen case. Galaxy Z Fold4 takes stunning photos and videos with an upgraded 50MP wide lens and 30x Space Zoom lens. And with the larger pixel size, a 23 percent brighter sensor, and enhanced processing power, users can capture clear images even at night while never worrying about spills, as Galaxy Z Fold4 is also equipped with IPX8 water resistance.

SAMSUNG EXPANDS ITS 2022 TV PORTFOLIO WITH THE LAUNCH OF OLED 4K SMART TV

Samsung Gulf Electronics today expanded its market-leading TV portfolio with the launch of the Samsung OLED range, available in 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes. Samsung OLED TVs feature over 8 million self-lit pixels equipped with Quantum Dot Technology that can deliver brighter, more accurate highlights and realistic colors.

“We are excited to announce the launch of Samsung OLED, representing the very cutting-edge TV technology in our 2022 range of home entertainment products,” said Nikola Aksentijevic, Head of Visual Display Group, Samsung Gulf Electronics. “There has been a dramatic shift in what consumers are looking for, and the launch of Samsung OLED reinforces our commitment to delivering the best entertainment experience to fulfill the needs of consumers and empower their lifestyles whilst helping them unlock new experiences.”

“Samsung is an award-winning global leader in TV innovation and immersive entertainment solutions. OLED 4k Smart TV is a token of that effort as the brand continues to anticipate consumer needs with cutting-edge technology.” He added.

Samsung’s OLED TV model, the S95B brings together the cutting-edge performance of the Neural Quantum Processor 4K and the intelligent experiences of the Tizen platform with the incredible sound experiences of Samsung Object Tracking Sound and Q-Symphony- with Dolby Atmos, all wrapped up in a LaserSlim design.

The S95B features technologies that deliver improved brightness and realistic color not previously available from OLED technology. The new TV goes beyond just panel technology for a screen experience well beyond what has been available from OLED TVs to date and is yet another option for consumers to customize their experiences.

Launching at the height of the football season, the new Samsung OLED can be purchased from Samsung stores, Samsung.com, and select retailers.

HAIER MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA: ADHERE TO THE THREE-LEVEL BRAND STRATEGY

As a leading brand in the global home appliance industry, Haier Smart Home, with its three-in-one localization strategy, has achieved multi-regional growth despite many uncertainties such as global inflation and industry downturn this year. Among them, the Middle East and Africa the region has an overall increase of 20%, 3 times more than the industry. In order to further maintain the good development trend, on October 26, Haier Smart Home held the 2022 Middle East and Africa Annual Press Conference.

The conference was held in Dubai with the theme of “Transformation, Upgrading and Win-win”, which attracted reports from over 30 international media. At the conference, Haier Smart Home launched the development

strategy of the Middle East and Africa market from multiple dimensions such as service, brand, and scenarios, and strengthened the proposition of jointly implementing Haier’s localization and brand creation strategy with partners, continuing to create value for local consumers, and making further breakthroughs, even optimized the strategic direction for global development.

At the press conference, Mr. Li Dapeng, CEO of Haier Middle East, and Africa, firstly shared the current development of Haier’s Middle East and Africa and proposed a three-level brand strategy of Haier Smart Home, which is to create a three-in-one image of high-end, smart, and ecological. In addition, some key markets also shared

their plans for 2023. Among them, Haier Saudi Arabia will launch platform-based and serialized products, which will not only meet the differentiated needs of local users, but also bring users a fast and professional installation service experience. Haier Egypt will deepen the three-in-one strategy of marketing, R&D and manufacturing. Among them, Haier Egypt Industrial Park, which is scheduled to be put into operation in the first quarter of 2024, will rapidly enhance its localized manufacturing capabilities and provide consumers in the Middle East and Africa with better localized products. At the last, Haier Gulf is planning to build the first smart home experience store locally, focusing on the interactive experience of offline touchpoints, providing one-stop solutions for gulf consumers, and interacting with partners at zero distance, moving forward hand in hand and creating a win-win situation.

With the continuous implementation of the strategy of localized Marketing, R&D and manufacturing and smart home strategy in the Middle East and Africa, Haier Smart Home will continue to upgrade its brand, product, marketing, supply chain, service, and multi-country collaboration capabilities, and apply its successful experience to a global scale.

3D

Video

State-of-the-art

WACOM’S DIGITAL PEN FOR LEARNING, TEACHING, AND CREATIVITY

Wacom is the global leader in the pen display and tablet market for creative users, which provides cutting-edge digital ink solutions for a wide range of partners using and producing smartphones, tablets, and digital stationery. The company operates through Brand Business, Technology Solution Business, and Other Business segments.

ings, compile layouts, create 3D models and render presentations more efficiently.

BRINGING THE PEN INTO THE DIGITAL CLASSROOM

Wacom Branded Business, Technology Solution Business, and other business segments are transforming the creative industries at lightning speed. The ever-growing demand for original content and new designs leads to complex, high-volume workflows with a need for absolute precision that requires intuitive and efficient digital creative tools. Wacom pioneered the idea of the digital pen, which is still the best and most intuitive instrument to express human creativity. True to its name, which combines the Japanese syllable ‘Wa’ for harmony and ‘Com’ for computer, the company started to develop an intuitive input device for the more creative uses of a computer. In pioneering its ground-breaking EMR-Technology, Wacom created its first digital pen tablet.

Today, Wacom’s digital pen tablets and high-res digital pen displays are at the heart of many workflows of the creative industry. They work like interactive digital drawing tables; for many digital artists, the pressure-sensitive pen is just a natural extension of their hand. They combine the natural feel and familiar effects of traditional pencils, markers, and brushes with a digital workflow’s precision, control, and editability.

TOOLS FOR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY

A world filled with screens and displays for communication and entertainment relies on professional digital creatives to fill them with content. From storyboarding

to post-production work, world-renowned animators, game developers, CGI artists, and 3D sculptors turn to Wacom pen and display technology to create the characters, creatures, special effects, and worlds in the games and movies that fans adore.

In other creative workflows, like industrial design and fast fashion, time is quite literally money. Every false start or mistake can delay a product rollout or increase the cost of a development project.

Architecture is another industry that needs detailed designs and compelling visualizations. Add to that the increasing need for smart buildings and the progressing digitalization of the construction industry. With Wacom, architects have a digital drafting table with the tools they need to sketch, conceptual design elements, color draw-

Schools and universities worldwide are harnessing the power of Wacom’s digital pen technology to meet the challenges of the digital classroom, hybrid and distance learning, e-learning, and online collaboration. The interactive pen tablets and displays help teachers and students to express themselves more naturally and explain concepts visually. It allows them to continue the methods they are familiar with from conventional lessons and connect and exchange information with each other online. Especially for the important STEAM subjects (science, tech, engineering, art, maths), there are many exciting application possibilities.

INSPIRING AND SUPPORTING CREATIVES

Creative professionals, as well as passionate enthusiasts and hobbyists, find in Wacom, a partner that provides them with the tools and solutions to support their creative ambitions. The vision is to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface technologies. This advanced technology provides creative professionals with the right tools to express their personality and offers studios and other businesses reliable solutions to meet the demands of complex workflows.