Zycko majority share in Touchline revealed

Following the news that networking distributor Zycko and video communications distributor Touchline Video, formerly Review Video, had formed a partnership (CRN, 11 February), CRN can reveal that Zycko has become a majority shareholder of the business.

Barry Cross, managing director of Touchline, said: “I can confirm that Touchline is now part of Zycko.
“We are often asked about voice over IP (VoIP) by customers and Zycko never had a video capability before so it made sense to join forces.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Touchline will exist as a separate entity and remain in its premises in Berkshire. “We will still have relationships with the same vendors, it is just that resellers can now come to us for a total converged package. We will handle the video side of an operation and Zycko will provide the VoIP,” said Cross.

Simon Welch, marketing director at rival distributor Horizon, said: “Touchline has good skills and relationships in the visual communications environment and Zycko deals with some small name VoIP vendors. It is probably a good position they have taken.”

Zycko was unavailable for comment as CRN went to press.

Meanwhile, Westcon, which bought US-based Review Video last year (CRN Online, 18 July), clarified any confusion over ownership of Review UK. Barry Shakespeare, executive vice president of Westcon Europe, said: “We made no attempt to buy ReView UK, a trading name that we own anyway, which is why Cross has created Touchline.”