REDMOND, Wash., March 19, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that 141 new partners, ISVs, ASPs, support centers and service providers have achieved entry into the Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Program. Membership in the program is awarded to independent companies that have proven their expertise through certification and customer references in one or more specialized areas when delivering Microsoft technologies to provide IT services and IT products to mid- to large-market enterprise customers.
The Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program was introduced last fall with the revamping of the company’s Certified Partner Program. Gold Certified Partners must meet rigorous certification criteria and must prove their expertise in a given solution area by providing real-world customer references. The Gold certification level has more stringent requirements than the Partner certification level and greater Microsoft support for members, differentiating partners into those providing E-Commerce Solutions, Software Products, Support Services, Enterprise Systems, and Hosting and Application Services (ASPs). Two more designations, Collaborative Solutions and Business Intelligence, will be added this spring.
Interest in the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program has been spurred by rapid advances in technology, particularly in the application service provider (ASP) and independent software vendor (ISV) areas. The program brings system integrators and custom developers together with ASPs and ISVs to provide one unified partner program.
“The new certifications are a win-win-win for Microsoft, its partners and their customers,”
said Rosa Garcia, general manager of Microsoft Partner Programs.
“The Gold Certified Partner Program helps customers identify the partners that are best suited for the areas of their specialty, while Microsoft is able to identify the partners that deserve a higher investment from Microsoft in certain areas.”
“Market pressures today have moved enterprise customers to look for partners with specialized and deep skills and a proven track record in deploying e-commerce and other e-business initiatives,”
said Neil Isford, president and CEO of Plural Inc., an e-business consulting and development firm that delivers business-critical Internet solutions using the latest Microsoft technologies.
“Microsoft’s Gold Certification program is a great credential for customers to use when selecting a partner. At Plural, we’ve found the Gold status a useful differentiator in our markets.”
Designed to increase members’ technical competency and business proficiency, the program provides partners with Microsoft product licenses for internal and marketing use, extensive technical training and support, access to prerelease product information and program codes, sales and marketing resources, and direct communications with Microsoft staff. They also receive customer referrals and participate in joint marketing opportunities.
More details on the Microsoft Certified Partner Program are available at http://www.microsoft.com/certpartner/ . Supplementary information on the Gold Certified Partner certifications is included at the URL.
Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for E-Commerce Solutions
Microsoft has announced an additional 75 companies to be certified as Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for E-Commerce Solutions today. These companies were primarily recommended by Microsoft’s field organization for this area of certification. Companies that reach Gold Certified Partner Program for E-Commerce Solutions status have demonstrated increased levels of certification and real-world experience by providing customer references that are independently verified.
New Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for E-Commerce Solutions include the following:
Acclarant Inc., Affinity Logic, Amazon Inform
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tica Ltda, Aris UK, Brite Software Ltd., Cedalion (DSC), Claremont Technology Group Inc., Clarity Consulting, Closerlook Inc., CMG Finance BV, Computer Technology Solutions, Compuware, Conchango plc, Core Technology Systems [UK] Limited, CrossTier.com, Cunningham Consulting, De Simone & Osswald Holding AG, Dunn Systems Inc., Ementor ASA, ePresence, Equarius, Eumetrix Financial Solutions AB, Expert Information Services Pty Ltd., Garaio Informatik AG, Goliath Networks Inc., Green Team Scrl, IBES Systemhaus GmbH, ImagiNet, Inetuim Inc., Intec Software AG, Integrated Information Systems, Intellimark, IntelliNet Corp., Interlink Group Inc., Internosis, IT Age Corp., JSC Quarta, Macaw New Media NV, Malam Zafon, ManagedOps.com, Microsys S.r.l, Netjuice Consulting (formerly Initiatives Corp.), Noris Ingenieurbuero GmbH, Novo Nordisk IT A/S, Oakwood Systems Group Inc., Objectware AS, OBS Pty Ltd., Olympic Software NZ Ltd., Omicron Consulting Inc., OmniTechnology Centers, OnSphere Corp., Parity Solutions, Pinnacle Decision Systems, Plural Inc., PPedv AG, Quilogy, Rainier Technology, Renacimiento Sistemas S.L., Rila Software, SageStone Inc., Shared Resource Management Inc., Skupina Atlantis, Software Architects Inc., Software Scenario AS, SPAN d.o.o., SystemBeratung GeD GmbH, Tara Software Inc., Technium Inc., Terrace Consulting Inc., The Electronic Entertainment & Exchange, Veda System Solutions Corp., WebOne Informatik GmbH, Wizmo and Zuhlke Engineering AG.
Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Software Products
ISVs continue to enthusiastically support Microsoft’s Gold Certified Partner Program. As of today, Microsoft has announced an additional 37 ISVs that have achieved Gold Certification for Software Products status. Certification requires ISVs to have a software product that has successfully completed Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server certification.
New Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Software Products include the following:
A.A.G. Inc., AP Automation & Productivity AG, Aelita, Agresso Group ASA, Arti Informatiche Srl, CommVault, DuoCor Inc., FileNet Corp., FileNET GmbH, Formscape, Heroix Corp., Icon Medialab Syd AB, InsERT Sp, Internet Commerce Express Inc., IntraLearn Software Corp., Lakeside Software Inc., Lenel Systems International Inc., LOGICO IT-Consulting & Handel GmbH, Logotec Engineering SA, Major Blue Co., Navision Damgaard A/S, Navision Software (Schweiz) AG, Navision Software Italia Srl, Navision Software SI d.o.o., Navision Software Svenska AB, Nereosoft Inc., OpusCapita Plc, PatchLink.com, Pivotal Corp., plaNet 2000 Software Inc., plaNet Consulting Inc., Spire Inc., Step Ahead AG, TARGIT A/S, TJ Group A/S, Trend Micro Inc. and Quest.
Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Support Services
Microsoft Certified Support Centers (MCSCs) that have traditionally met the highest level of requirements for certification, quality and measured customer satisfaction are united with other types of certified partners in the 2001 Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program. MCSCs form the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Support Services category. All existing MCSCs automatically qualified for the new gold certified program due to the rigorous standards required of MCSCs in 2000, but they are required to meet additional customer reference requirements going forward. This move provides MCSCs with many new program benefits and advances the new and more recognizable master brand.
Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Enterprise Systems
The Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program for Enterprise Systems identifies partners who have a specified number of Microsoft Certified System Engineers on staff and have provided customer references that describe complex server designs, planning and migration projects, as well as large-scale deployments of the Microsoft technology platform. As of today, Microsoft has announced an additional 29 companies that have achieved Gold Certification for Enterprise Systems.
New Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Enterprise Systems include the following:
AddOn Systemhaus GmbH, Alpha Technologies Inc., Asystel Spa, Axept AG, Centrix Networking Ltd., Comics Informations Systeme GmbH, Computer Land UK Plc, Computer Source Inc., Convergent Computing, Corp Info Services, Custom Micro LLC, Dr. Morawietz Consulting & Training GmbH, DVMB AG, Frontway, Gl
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ck & Kanja GmbH, ICM Computer Solutions Plc, Internosis, Media Artists AG, NSC – Netzwerke Schulungen Consulting, Omicron, PFH Computers, Progel Srl, Proge-Software Srl, Rainier Technologies, Sequoia Diversified Products, Sieciowe Systemy Informacyjne SA, Systems Business Integration Ltd., Unisys (Schweiz) AG, and VLSystems Inc.
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Hosting and Application Services (ASPs)
The first U.S. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Hosting and Application Services announced to date are ManagedOps.com, Qwest Communications and USinternetworking Inc. (USi).
About Microsoft
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.
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