Turning a PC into a Virtual ISP: the AIT Reseller Program
2 June 2005
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- June 2, 2005 -- Paul LaFlamme's business includes a 93,000 square foot data center and a 24/7 tech support team. Few of his customers know that his office is in a Virginia house. LaFlamme is among the 8,000 Internet entrepreneurs who have partnered with AIT, a web hosting company in North Carolina, who provide Internet services using little more than a desktop computer and web access. "The key benefit for me is time; I have more of it to follow up with clients or to meet prospects," says LaFlamme. "I'm not tied to a desk because, in essence, I have a design staff and support team working for me."
AIT's reseller program (http://ait.com/?news-var) revolves around providing a variety of services, anonymity (meaning the user's brand can appear on all services), and margins for revenue. The typical end user is a small business in need of an Internet presence. Resellers can offer web site hosting, domain registration, Internet connectivity, a merchant bank, and web design, along with one significant intangible - a local presence. "Resellers can work with clients up-close; usually, they're in the same community," said Clarence Briggs, AIT's Chief Executive Officer. "At the same time, they can claim our infrastructure and support systems as their own."
AIT's reseller community includes web designers, programmers, network administrators, and sales professionals. Some sell a portion of the AIT product line; others carry it all and supplement with services of their own, such as on-site networking or computer repair. Jim Hatley lives in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains and wanted to be his own boss. "This has allowed me to carve a business niche in my region," says Hatley, "providing businesses with services they need and being just a phone call away if they have questions."
AIT, Inc. supports more than 190,000 domains in 107 countries and is the only hosting company to be listed on both the Inc 500 and Deloitte & Touche Fast 500. AIT operates dual data centers, providing 24/7 support, and industrial grade infrastructure. Founded in North Carolina in 1996, AIT also offers e-commerce, data storage, software development, IP telephony, application hosting, and a technology training center.
