Microsoft promotes installation of Small Business Server with attractive rebate offer

Microsoft has made the purchase and installation of its Small Business Server product more attractive to resellers by offering a rebate of up to R2 000 on the services provided to their end-user customers.

To qualify for this rebate, resellers need to pass the online Small Business Server 2000 Skills Assessment Test and become eligible to participate in the Channel Services Rebate. Once the test has been successfully passed, the reseller will then also be listed in the Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 Partner Locator Tool published on http://www.microsoft.com/sbs. The links to this test can be found at www.microsoft.com/southafrica/partner.

"This is an excellent promotion, aimed at encouraging resellers to provide value-added services to their customers and to get the SA reseller community 'skilled up`," says Justin Agar, Microsoft product manager at local distributor, Axiz. "We would like to encourage as many of our resellers as possible to participate in this programme."

"Microsoft believes in the channel and partners and the vital role that they play in developing customer and market relationships," says Anton Jacobsz, OEM and SMB channel and partner manager at Microsoft South Africa. "This rebate promotion is one of many strategies developed by Microsoft to show our commitment."

The rebate amount is based on the value of the services provided to the end-user customer up to R2 000. To redeem the rebate, resellers need to submit their rebate application with a copy of their customer`s dated sales receipt for the Small Business Server 2000 software licence purchased, as well as a copy of the dated receipt for the installation, maintenance and training services provided to the customer.

"Resellers must take note, however, that the rebate is valid only with services associated with the Small Business Server 2000 purchased between 1 August 2002 to 31 January 2003, and that only FPP, Open, or OEM versions of Small Business Server 2000 are eligible for the promotion," points out Agar. "Also, the rebate is not valid in conjunction with other Microsoft offers or rebates, or for upgrades from or on Academic Edition product."

Small Business Server 2000 is the third-generation release of the full-featured network solution designed to help businesses with up to 50 computers take advantage of the Internet, strengthen customer relationships, and improve employee productivity. Delivering standard versions of the Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers to small business, and providing the agility to compete in today`s new economy, Small Business Server 2000 delivers Microsoft Windows 2000 Server-based solutions for e-mail, fax, database, and secure, shared Internet access - all in one integrated solution for an exceptional value.