As their capabilities improved, so did their business prospects. Many channel companies went public. Some went national, even international. Eventually, these organizations began competing with the global service arms of the largest hardware vendors, plus the traditional, third-party service companies that have provided outsourcing services to big business and the Federal government since the 1960s. Over the years, channel companies sprung up to take advantage of every possible buying opportunity.
New ones join the fray every day.
No matter the technology, no matter the market, there is bound to be a channel company to meet your needs or those of your targeted customers. Today the channel continues to evolve. The Internet is certainly a driving factor. Disintermediation will occur, but in ways different than most people think. For every small, regionally focused retailer that may be put out of business, another channel company a web consulting shop, an ISP or an online reseller, perhaps will take its place.