UK distie VIP Computer Centre has bought Techfever - an online seller of IT products aimed at techies and small businesses for an undisclosed amount.

Techfever, which was only started in 2004, was one of the first companies to pilot VIP's XML Services. The press release says the firm "services a modest customer base of SMEs, computer enthusiasts and technically proficient consumers".

VIP will leave Techfever to operate independently from its own offices but will steer its new strategy to avoid it competing with VIP customers. Techfever will target the "digital home market" - media centres and flatscreen TVs.

Late last month VIP bought Realtime Distribution which specialises in games components.

The whole press release is available from VIP here.®