Channel News Briefs: Week of Oct. 26

Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider Program Adds New Partners

Microsoft has selected Tech Data, a global IT technology distributor, and AppRiver, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider of email messaging and Web security solutions and an original Office 365 syndicator, to participate in its Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider Program. The program is aimed at expanding “cloud sales opportunities for reseller partners by enabling them to provide direct billing, sell combined offers and services, and directly provision, manage and support products and services.”

Tech Data helps reseller partners manage the lifecycle of cloud solution provider subscriptions, and will consolidate monthly billing for the subscriptions along with monthly bills for other cloud services so reseller partners receive only one invoice each month, making it easier for them to sell Office 365 and Windows Intune subscriptions. Under the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider program, AppRiver owns the complete customer lifecycle, allowing partners to sell Office 365 subscriptions and helping them take advantage of cloud services by owning the entire billing process and directly managing support.

Veeam Cloud Connect Available in Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Veeam Software has announced that Veeam Cloud Connect is now available to service providers in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. Veeam Cloud Connect is available as a pre-configured Microsoft Azure Certified for Virtual Machines solution, which service providers can use with Microsoft Azure to offer cloud repositories for Veeam availability solutions and services, said the company. This provides service providers with an Azure-based solution for managing and moving backups off site to the cloud. Veeam Cloud Connect is part of the Veeam Availability Suite v8, which provides customers with a fully integrated and secure way to move backups to an offsite backup repository managed by the service provider of their choice.  Service providers can offer offsite backup services to customers in less than 10 minutes using their own cloud infrastructure or public clouds, according to the company.

ClearOne Launches New Partner Program

ClearOne, a global provider of audio and visual communication products, has launched its New ClearOne Connections Partner Program. The channel program targets VOIP companies, telecom agents and managed service providers in the desktop and mobile communications markets.

The partner program consists of two models: the White Label Channel Program and Agent Program. The White Label Program is designed for partners targeting different vertical markets to sell and support services under their brand with a scalable, future-proof SaaS solution.

Partners include VOIP service providers, interconnect companies who are system integrators selling, installing and supporting voice hardware/telephone systems, and managed service providers who are service delivery focused partners. The Agent Program is designed to jump start a traditional telecom agent’s entry into the cloud, desktop and mobile communications markets.

Tech Data Improves Software License Tool

Tech Data  has enhanced its Software License Selector, the company’s online tool that handles software order inquiries from solution providers. The new integration enhancements allow solution providers to ensure order accuracy, which includes consultative services that help IT resellers select the best solution for their end customer.

New features include an interface built on HTML 5.0, advanced address book search capabilities, a responsive design and multiple browser compatibility.

For solution providers, the selector lowers the licensing cost for processing, delivers accurate pricing and makes it easy to attach software to all hardware sales. The tool also provides the opportunity for vendor partners to increase their channel partner base as more solution providers are able to sell software using the Software License Selector, said Tech Data.