Microsoft Rolls Out Partner Rewards Initiative

REDMOND, Wash., April 7, 2003 — Microsoft Corp. today announced Microsoft®
Partner Rewards, a powerful new initiative that provides tangible resources to empower Microsoft value-added resellers and system builders to build and strengthen their business. Microsoft Partner Rewards will offer technical training, product support and marketing incentives to arm industry partners with the resources and tools they need to reach their customer base and stay ahead of their competition. The goal of Microsoft Partner Rewards is to enable industry partners to earn benefits that will deliver increased value for their business. Equipped with additional technical, product and business support, industry partners will be able to more effectively serve their customers’ needs.

Value-added resellers and system builders can earn Rewards points every time they acquire qualified Microsoft software licenses. Industry partners can redeem these points for a variety of Rewards resources that will help them strengthen and grow their business while supporting their business objectives. Microsoft Partner Rewards is a direct result of industry partner feedback and is a worldwide initiative that is being introduced initially to channel partners in the United States and Canada.

“We’re extremely excited to be rolling this out to our channel partners,”
said Margo Day, general manager for the U.S. Partner Group at Microsoft.
“We believe this initiative provides new and flexible opportunities to supply our industry partners with the resources they need to help them better meet the needs of their customer base.”

“In today’s economy, we are measured by our ability to provide excellent customer service by quickly and effectively addressing and solving technical problems that arise,”
said Sharon Shabander, director of marketing at Computer Builders Warehouse.
“It’s great to see the energy and effort Microsoft has put into this. Microsoft Partner Rewards will provide us with the product and technical support we need to resolve our customers’ problems. We see tremendous opportunity for our company to profit from this.”

Industry partners are able to apply points earned for the following Microsoft business development resources:

  • Business development funds. Industry partners can redeem points to fund specified business activities that can increase their customer reach and marketing ability.

  • Product training. Industry partners will be able to redeem points for valuable product training through participating Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (Microsoft CTECs) to offer customers the latest technology solutions.

  • Technical support. Microsoft Partner Rewards will offer industry partners an opportunity to redeem points for five complementary professional-level support incidents from Microsoft Product Support Services to quickly solve technical problems at an industry partner’s customer’s site.

As Microsoft continues to invest in its industry partners, it expects to build on Microsoft Partner Rewards by adding more resources and expanding eligibility based on industry partner feedback. Eligible industry partners can immediately take advantage of Microsoft Partner Rewards and can apply today at http://members.microsoft.com/partner/go/rewards/ .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

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

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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