Oklahoma City company to distribute Brazilian software

Saturday, February 18th 2006, 9:53 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A state-sponsored economic development trip to Brazil two years ago paid off on Friday, when an Oklahoma City company inked a deal to distribute software produced by a Brazilian company.

Synertech Global Technologies of Atlanta signed an exclusive marketing agreement with Oklahoma Christian Investment Corporation, an affiliate of Oklahoma Christian University, to distribute software produced by Brazilian-based software developer Automatos Inc.

``Oklahoma has the opportunity and assets for international development,'' said Rep. Shane Jett, R-Tecumseh, who previously worked in Brazil doing market research and consulting for American and Brazilian firms.

Jett said its location in the geographic center of the nation, the junction of major Interstates 35 and 40, the availability of rail, water and air transportation and ample warehousing space make Oklahoma City an ideal location for a distribution center.

``We're raising eyebrows around the world, particularly in Brazil,'' Jett said.

Jett was among 39 Oklahomans who participated in a trade mission to Brazil in February 2004 that was headed by Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, who signed a sister city agreement between Oklahoma City and Rio de Janeiro.

Atila Martins, a former banker and chief financial officer of Synertech, said he wants to strengthen the relationship between the two cities. Synertech handles global marketing for Automatos.

Martins, part of a delegation of Brazilians, said he has brought many of his countrymen to Oklahoma City and is ``promoting this state beyond its borders.''

``Brazilians are coming,'' he said.

Oklahoma Christian University President Mike O'Neal said the school's partnership with Synertech was not a traditional function for a college or university. He said revenue from the deal will produce an alternative funding source for the school, whose traditional funding sources are becoming more difficult to secure.

Automatos is a global leader in remote-control asset-management software. The company's software controls more than 250,000 computers and 15,000 services for clients representing major corporations like IBM, Hewlett Packard, General Motors, General Electric, Motorola and Intel.

Automatos recently launched another product, Legitimi, which protects companies against cyberfraud, identity theft and computer hacking.