PlumChoice to offer white-labeled SafeLink to Intel channel 29 January, 2009 By Chris Talbot

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As a specialist in technology services for small businesses and consumers, PlumChoice uses its SafeLink platform as the basis for its offerings, which is resold by channel resellers in the U.S. (and to a lesser extent, througout the rest of the world). Channel partners use the technology to service their own customers remotely, and while SafeLink enables partners to solve most problems remotely, some problems have traditionally had to be handles on-site, said Ted Werth, CEO of PlumChoice. The integration of SafeLink with Intel's Remote PC Assist will reduce the number of on-site visits even more.

Intel Remote PC Assist technology is embedded in the silicon, so even if a PC can't boot up to the operating system, remote technicians can still connect to it and try to solve whatever is causing the problem, Werth explained.

"We can still connect up to the computer, diagnose and it extends our ability to solve problems remotely," he said.

For VARs, this means they'll be able to extend the capabilities of PlumChoice's SafeLink platform beyond what it's currently capable of, he said. They can extend those capabilities to their end-customers.

"It matches up really well with PlumChoice because we've really focused on premium technology trust in our services," Werth said.

The initial launch of Intel's technology will be geared towards servicing small businesses, with plans to extend those capabilities to the consumer market in 2010.

"As the capability rolls out, it extends our ability to service problems remotely. Essentially, if someone calls us and they've got a blue screen of death or their computer won't boot, we've got minimal capability today to do anything but dispatch," Werth said. Intel's technology will change that. Through the pressing of a certain key combination to acces Intel Remote PC Assist, end-users can make it possible for remote service technicians to access their computers and work to fix problems.

Through Intel, SafeLink will be white-labeled and offered directly to the vendor's network of channel resellers.