New Microsoft Direct Access Offerings Help Independent Resellers and Consultants Seize Windows NT Opportunity
REDMOND, Wash., March 4, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that it will equip more than 120,000 value-added providers (VAPs) – resellers and consultants – currently engaged in the Microsoft® Direct Access program with new tools and resources to take advantage of the business opportunity associated with the Microsoft Windows NT® operating system in 1998. New program offerings available in the United States and Canada include a new Microsoft Direct Access Action Pack, technical sessions and training courses focused on the Microsoft BackOffice® family and the Internet, and the Microsoft Direct Access Migration Toolkit for NetWare. The new toolkit meets VAP demands for a resource that helps customers upgrade existing systems.
In its most recent operating system reports, International Data Corp. (IDC) said Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server were the most rapidly growing PC platform and server environment worldwide in 1997. According to IDC, Windows NT Workstation shipped 7.034 million licenses in 1997, representing 208 percent growth over 1996. Windows NT Server shipped 1.3 million licenses in 1997, representing 80 percent growth over 1996.
IDC is forecasting that, by 2002, Windows NT Workstation will represent 27.8 percent of the estimated 123 million client operating systems that will ship, and Windows NT Server will represent 51.1 percent of the 3 million server units that are expected to ship.
The new tools and resources available through the Microsoft Direct Access program aim to help resellers and consultants capture the opportunities surrounding this growth.
“Microsoft Direct Access provides all the resources value-added providers need to leverage the lucrative business opportunities surrounding Windows NT 4.0 and Microsoft BackOffice,” said Paul Bazley, general manager, small-business marketing and value-added provider programs at Microsoft. “One of our newest tools – the Migration Toolkit for NetWare – was developed in direct response to requests from VAPs for a complete package of materials to ease customer migrations from legacy file and print systems to rich application servers.”
The Microsoft Direct Access Migration Toolkit for Netware is designed to help VAPs deploy Windows NT Server and the Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server as complementary or replacement servers in a Novell NetWare environment. The toolkit includes the following components:
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Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 (10-user, not-for-resale license)
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Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack
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Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server (two-user, not-for-resale license)
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Microsoft Direct Access Migration Tools CD-ROM
The Microsoft Direct Access Migration Toolkit for NetWare is available at no cost (offer good in the United States and Canada only). Information on how to order the toolkit is available at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/news/msnw/NT4overNW.asp .
The next generation of the Microsoft Direct Access Action Pack, which includes new products, documentation, training, support and sales resources, is now available and includes Microsoft BackOffice 4.0, BackOffice Small Business Server (two-user, not-for-resale license) and Microsoft Office 97 Professional Edition. The Action Pack also includes Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows NT Workstation 4.0, the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 starter kit, sales materials, support incidents and training vouchers. The Microsoft Direct Access Action Pack 5.0 is available through distributors in the United States and Canada at an estimated retail price of $349 (U.S.). For more details, see http://www.microsoft.com/directaccess/Products/default.asp .
To discuss these opportunities with VAPs, Microsoft is conducting events in 130 cities across North America between now and April 30. New technical sessions added to the Microsoft Direct Access Quarterly Update include Migrating to Windows NT Server and Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server from NetWare, Introducing Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server and Demonstrating the Business Value of Intranet Applications. In addition, Microsoft has updated its technical training for VAPs and has scheduled approximately 800 one-day technical training classes through April 11 across North America on Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server, Microsoft Exchange 5.5 and Microsoft SQL Server
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7.0.
“The Microsoft Direct Access program helped me double my client base in the last half of 1997,” said Irene Lugenbeel, president of Professional Computer Systems Inc., an affiliate of the Masters Network. “The changes to the Direct Access program for 1998 demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to opening the doors to new business opportunities for small businesses and independent consultants like me.”
Microsoft Direct Access is designed to enable resellers, consultants and other value-added service providers to take advantage of business opportunities to increase their revenue, better
meet customers’ needs and find out what’s new in technology. Microsoft Direct Access helps organizations optimize their use of the wide range of Microsoft support, training and reference resources available. Focused business development opportunities highlighted by the Microsoft Direct Access program include developing and supporting Web applications, taking advantage of the demand for the Windows NT operating system, deploying database and messaging solutions, and tapping the revenue potential of specific customer segments such as small business. For more information on the Microsoft Direct Access program, visit http://www.microsoft.com/directaccess/default.asp .
Microsoft offers a wide range of channel programs and resources. For further information about working with Microsoft, visit http://www.microsoft.com/directaccess/partnering/microsoft/default.asp .
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, Windows NT and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks 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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