Microsoft expands, enhances Microsoft Certified Partner Programmes

To help its Microsoft Certified Partner Programme and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Programme members provide superior value to their customers and increase their market share, Microsoft recently announced a range of programme enhancements, including improved technical, marketing and sales resources. In addition, the programmes will now be available to independent hardware vendors (IHVs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

"Microsoft aims to provide unparalleled certification programmes that help participants differentiate themselves in the industry, accelerate time to market, deepen credibility with customers and achieve their strategic business goals," says Brett Parker, enterprise sales and partner group director at Microsoft SA. "We expect the improvements we are announcing for 2002 to increase the business value that members and customers gain from the Certified Partner Programme."

In 2002, Microsoft Certified Partners will receive improved benefits, including the following:

• .         New products for internal use. Members will receive internal-use licences for several new products, including the SharePoint Portal Server, the Windows XP operating system, Microsoft Project 2002, Visio 2002 Professional drawing and diagramming software and MapPoint 2002 business mapping software. These licences complement those already received by members for Office XP, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Exchange 2000 Server, SQL Server 2000 and Small Business Server 2000.

• .         Discounts on additional internal-use desktop licences.

• .         New business platform evaluation kits designed to enable partners to quickly deploy structured pilots for customers and expedite the sales cycle. Initially, these kits will focus on Microsoft`s desktop, server and advanced server technologies for the enterprise. Subsequent kits will focus on solutions for empowering employees, connecting customers and integrating business partners.

• .         Expanded Certified Partner Web site. The Microsoft Certified Partner Web site provides exclusive, comprehensive, up-to-date information on the company, products and programmes. The site is integrated with Microsoft`s premier partner portal.

"The 2002 Microsoft Certified Partner Programme changes will offer more options to our customers and to our own sales models and gives us the kind of flexibility we need to help our customers understand the value and capabilities of our software solutions," says Parker.

AST is one Microsoft Certified Partner which clearly sees the benefits of these enhancements. According to Dennis Parker, business unit manager at AST Microsoft Solutions: "It is essential that we have a thorough understanding of the Microsoft offerings in order to deliver a professional service offering to our customers. The Microsoft Certified Partner Programme meets our needs in this area in every regard. We receive regular software updates, bulletins, alerts, technical tips and training advice on all aspects of the Microsoft technology solutions that we offer. The Microsoft Certified Partner Programme is without doubt the benchmark against which technology companies should measure themselves."

Over and above the benefits listed, Gold Certified Partners will receive internal-use licences for the entire family of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers; greater numbers of product licences for internal use; unlimited product licences for use in solution demonstrations at customer sites; and automatic access to Microsoft Solutions. These solutions are integrated, tested, documented and extensible enterprise solutions featuring Microsoft technologies, prescriptive tools, services, and support from Microsoft and its partners. Members can take advantage of this intellectual property to provide more value to customers in an accelerated time frame.

Microsoft is offering IHVs and OEMs the opportunity to enrol in the Microsoft Certified Partner Programme if they have a product that passes the Designed for Windows XP logo certification test. Throughout the year, Microsoft will announce additional product certification opportunities for the Certified Partner Programme, including certifications for Exchange Server, BizTalk Server and the forthcoming family of Windows .NET Servers.