Verizon to Breathe Life Into Geek Squad
posted Sunday Jul 22, 2012 by Scott Ertz
Verizon has realized that small businesses are in desperate need of IT support and feel that they are in the right position to solve the problem. Actually, they feel they are in the right position to brand a solution from another company: Best Buy's ailing Geek Squad service. The two companies have teamed up to create IT Help Desk, a 24/7 computer solution service in which Geek Squad Agents will take phone questions and solve a myriad of computer problems.
Janet Schijns, vice president of vertical solutions and channels for Verizon Enterprise Solutions, said,
Technology innovation continues to unlock value and create revenue opportunities for small and medium businesses, which are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Our new offering allows business owners to tap into today's sophisticated wireless and advanced technologies with the peace of mind that trusted tech support is readily available anytime the need arises.
Verizon seems to think it is a partnership made in heaven. What does Best Buy think of someone wanting the aid of their Geek Squad service? Hit the break.
George Sherman, senior vice president of Best Buy Services, said,
The relationship we've established with Verizon is a good example of how Geek Squad is taking things deeper with customers and finding new ways to reach them. Verizon will use Geek Squad's expanding remote support capability along with our other support channels to ensure that customers receive trusted IT guidance whenever and wherever they need it.
It will be interesting to see how Verizon sells this mix-brand service to its smaller customers without losing any credibility in the industry. With their higher-tier IT service offerings aimed at large businesses being coupled with a service that is a little out of their control being offered by a company who has Better Business Bureau ratings in the C-F range in many large markets, any bad publicity could hurt their overall business. While this is a good move for Best Buy for sure, only time will tell whether or not it pans out for Verizon.
