Prism Scrap Software

Some micro users may find new software in short supply over the next few weeks following Prism Microproducts' withdrawal from software distribution.

Prism's closure of its software merchandising operation is not totally unexpected (issue 72) and comes shortly after it lost its contract to supply Green's.

In the short term there could be supply problems for its other two major clients, Rumbelows and Laskys. But both companies are optimistic that their shops can meet demand until new arrangements are made.

"I don't think there will be any hiccup," said Philip Halton, Laskys' micro manager. "Most of the software in the shops is all new products."

"We are talking to a number of people who are prepared to move in very fast. By the end of the month we will be able to offer a completely new service," he said.

"I see no disruption at all," said Peter Jackson, Rumbelows' marketing director. "We have plenty of software in stock." It has already negotiated a new distribution agreement with Thorn-EMI, its parent company. "It has been looking at a similar kind of operation for some time," he said.

"If anything our service will expand rather than contract," he added.

Richard Hease, a Prism director, said the reason it pulled out of software merchandising was the low level of sales in the shops it was servicing.