Microsoft Teams With New Vendors to Expand Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Alliance

Microsoft Teams With New Vendors to Expand Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Alliance

NEW ORLEANS, May 30, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a significant expansion of the Microsoft® Certified Solution Provider (MCSP) Alliance, a Microsoft-sponsored affiliation of product and service companies that extend specialized and discounted offers to MCSPs. The new participants – including UUNET Technologies Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., BMC Software Inc., Casio Computer Co., Network Computing Devices Inc. (NCD) and VeriSign Inc. – join the more than 40 companies already involved in the alliance, with more than 150 unique offers now available to MCSPs. With more than 15,500 MCSPs worldwide and 7,500 in the United States, Microsoft estimates that more than one-third of U.S. MCSPs have already actively sought out information on MCSP Alliance offers. Using the incentives currently available, Microsoft estimates an MCSP could save an average of $25,000 and up to $200,000 on its cost of doing business.

The MCSP Alliance offers are segmented into three major categories – software and tools, business services, and computing and networking equipment. Through the addition of these new participants and the expansions of previously existing offers, the MCSP Alliance offers now include discounts on handheld computing devices and Terminal Server solutions, as well as expanded database software solutions and network services.

“The MCSP Alliance offers – such as deals on training, publications, hardware and research – are focused on the needs of my business,”
said Bob Marsh, CEO of The Masters Network, an Atlanta-based MCSP.
“Access to these offers has enabled The Masters Network to take advantage of new business opportunities and move forward faster and more easily.”

Other vendors participating in the MCSP Alliance include @Home Network, Eastman Software, GFI Fax and Voice, JetForm Corp., Platinum Software Corp. and Wyse Technology Inc.

“We’ve signed almost 100 new VARs to our reseller program through our involvement with the MCSP Alliance since launch last month,”
said Nick Galea, president of GFI Fax and Voice.

The MCSPs we’ve engaged with have provided very positive feedback on our offer. The MCSP Alliance has proven to be an effective means for reaching out to this valuable,

influential group of channel organizations.

“Microsoft created the MCSP Alliance to bring together its thousands of Microsoft Certified Solution Providers as a collective group with demonstrated influence in the industry,”
said Juan Vegarra, director of the worldwide MCSP program at Microsoft.
“Third parties participating in the alliance obtain access to this powerful channel of service organizations; MCSPs obtain access to exclusive offers on products and services. This is a win-win situation, and we are pleased to see the growth and momentum behind this alliance.”

MCSPs seeking more information on the MCSP Alliance can visit the private MCSP Online Web site at (https://mcsp.one.microsoft.com/) (only accessible by MCSPs), or send correspondence to [email protected].

Microsoft Certified Solution Providers are independent organizations working with Microsoft that include a wide range of companies, such as systems integrators, custom application developers, installation and deployment service providers, business consultants and training organizations. MCSPs add value by offering their customers a full range of services, including Internet, intranet and e-commerce solutions, line-of-business applications, and client/server implementations. For more information on the MCSP program, visit http://www.microsoft.com/certpartner/ .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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