At its worldwide partner conference, held this week in Minneapolis, channel partners are learning about new releases of a variety of products that could affect the way they conduct business.

During the conference, CEO Steve Ballmer stressed the increased level of integration among its applications and solutions, predicting that the focus will help partners offer customers more integrated, more efficient solutions.

Microsoft Office will get a host of new features—which Microsoft executives are expected to describe in later sessions—while "Longhorn," the next-generation Windows operating system, will offer increased security, visualization and organizational capabilities.

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In addition, the Business Solutions group will unveil new releases of all of its core solutions suites, including a fully revamped Microsoft CRM 3.0, its customer relationship management solution.

Microsoft also plans to introduce several new products, including the RTC Presence Toolkit, which provides a set of visual controls for Microsoft Visual Studio.

Microsoft is also offering new services for partners to help customers better understand how information workers and business goals work together, including solution blueprints, partner training, facilitator guides and participant workbooks.

Get more information here.

Shavlik Technologies, a St. Paul, Minn.-based security software vendor offering patch management and vulnerability assessment solutions, has announced a new partner program for U.S. resellers based on its international partner program.

The program offers two options. The Trusted Advisor program is aimed at resellers specializing in security products and services, while the Trusted Agent program is geared to resellers focusing on the SMB (small and midsize business) market.

Both programs offer training, customer referrals, discounts, deal protection, MDF (market development funds) and additional support services.

Get more information here.

Secure Elements Inc., a vendor of vulnerability management and compliance risk reduction based in Herndon, Va., has introduced a channel partner program aimed at expanding sales and opening new markets.

The channel partner program offers field sales support, and delivery of pre-qualified leads for a partner's first engagements, something CEO Ned Miller said is unusual in traditional channel partner programs. By offering this enhanced support, Miller said partners will be able to become experts on the vendor's products more quickly and realize revenue faster.

The program also offers volume-based product discounts, trial and beta test opportunities, technical training, and a cooperative marketing and lead-generation program specific to various vertical markets.

Get more information here.