The start-up that's winning notoriety for bringing Microsoft's Windows operating system to the Macintosh platform is expanding its customer reach through a new partnership with its first U.S. distributor.

Parallels, which provides virtualization software for running Windows on Linux and Apple Computer's Macintosh desktop operating system, has struck a deal with Tech Data unveiled this week.

Under the terms of the agreement, Tech Data will provide Parallels software and tools to several markets, including the education and government verticals, as well as Fortune 500 and small to midsize businesses.

Benjamin Rudolph, marketing manager for Parallels, said Tech Data will be the company's main distribution partner in the U.S. although the company already works with distributors in 62 countries, such as Avanquest Software in Europe.

Tech Data is a Fortune 500 global distributor of IT products, with more than 90,000 customers in more than 100 countries. The company works with many of the top hardware and software vendors, including IBM, Microsoft and HP.

Parallels already has relationships with U.S. reseller partners, but now Tech Data will manage those relationships, Rudolph said. Parallels also hopes to win new resellers and customers through such an auspicious partnership, he added.

"[Tech Data] will start leveraging their network to bring qualified resellers into the Parallels family," Rudolph said. "They're pros. They are a multibillion-dollar company and really know their stuff."

For having only been around for less than a year and a half -- Parallels opened its doors in July 2005 -- the company has gotten a substantial amount of press for its Parallels Desktop for Mac virtualization software that enables Mac users to run Windows on Mac OS X.

Rudolph said while the company sells about several thousand copies a month of both its flagship Parallels Workstation for Windows and Linux product and its Mac product, the latter is definitely the more popular of the two products.

Parallels currently has about 85 employees, but is adding several people a week to the company, Rudolph said.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.