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Brightpoint to sell Verizon Wireless kit to businesses

PLAINFIELD, Ind.—Brightpoint Inc. inked a deal to sell phones and services from Verizon Wireless to small- and medium-sized businesses.

The mobile phone distributor said it will use its network of resellers to offer VZOffice voice and data products as well as Verizon Wireless’ CDMA2000 1x EV-DO-based BroadbandAccess service.

The news marks a substantial win for Brightpoint’s Advanced Wireless Services group, which seeks to bridge the divide between smaller businesses and the wireless industry. Brightpoint said it has invested more than $1 million per quarter over the past few years to build the enterprise-focused business.

“Ten years ago, we were investing capital (in logistics services) and seeing little revenue, but we knew we were getting traction with the carriers,” Brightpoint Chief Executive Officer Robert Laikin said earlier this year. “With AWS, I think it is a strategic area we have to invest in … to differentiate ourselves and to assist carriers in driving their data initiatives.”

Shares of Brightpoint appeared unaffected by the news, inching upward 8 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $12.87.

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