By Khali Henderson

ACT Conferencing  has added SHI, a $3 billion global provider of IT products and services, to its expanding list of channel partners selling its ReadyConnect audio and Web conferencing services.

SHI is based in Piscataway, N.J., with offices located throughout the world. Initially, the VAR will resell ACTs services in the United States with plans to expand internationally.

Based in Lakewood, Colo, ACT has operations in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore and the United Kingdom. It also provides international and local language services.

ACTs ReadyConnect self-managed audio and ReadyConnect Web Meeting conferencing services enable customers to schedule conference calls on-demand, 24/7 using one dial-in number and passcode. With ReadyConnect Web Meeting, clients can share presentations, documents, Web content or applications instantly.

SHI is proud to maintain a 99 percent customer retention rate. We accomplish this by listening to our customers and addressing their pain points with cost-effective, high quality solutions,” said Marc Malafronte, services manager for SHI. By adding ACTs reservationless audio and Web conferencing services to our product portfolio, we are addressing our clients needs with what we believe are the industrys highest quality conferencing services and support available.”

ACTs Unified Communications Team is training SHIs sales force of more than 1,000.   ACT also will provide customer support to SHIs conferencing services clients.

SHI is a phenomenal force in the VAR industry, carrying long-standing relationships with many of the Fortune 1000 companies,” said Paul Vick, director, channel and strategic sales, ACT Conferencing. This relationship signals significant growth potential for both SHI and ACT because were bringing a streamlined solution to SHIs knowledgeable sales reps. Coupled together SHI and ACT will give clients enormous value in their audio and Web conferencing services.”

SHI is ranked No. 49 on Everything Channels 2010 VAR 500 list.