SAP Recruits Canadian Midmarket Partners; Microsoft Offers Conference Discount, more

SAP is looking to grow its partner ranks serving the midmarket in Canada, according to a report in ITBusiness.ca. SAP Canada has hired Foster MacCallum International to lead a drive to recruit new partners for Business All-in-One. SAP hopes to grow North American SME business done through the channel from 10 percent to 45 percent, and SAP Canada is looking to grow its figure from 30 percent to 45 percent, according to the report.

From the North to the South…Maybe for some reason the idea of spending four days in Houston in July doesn’t automatically appeal to you. That may be why Microsoft is offering a discount to SBSC members (Small Business Specialist Community) who attend its Worldwide Partner Conference, scheduled for July 7 to 10 in Houston. Check it out here.

Want to let your vendors know just what you think about their products and channel program? The Summer 08 version of Salesforce.com can let vendors give partners access to Salesforce Ideas, the company reports. The on-demand application allows partners to provide feedback and suggestions, and then vote on each others feedback and suggestions. “By getting prioritized, real-time feedback on your partner programs and product offerings, you can improve your initiatives and increase partner loyalty and mindshare,” the company says.

General Dynamics Itronix has expanded its channel partner program for rugged mobile computing products and services, according to GovCon. The company says its offering an enhanced deal registration program that includes volume incentive discounts. GDI is also promising more leads for partners, and a simplified warranty and service program.

eWEEK reports that Amazon is suing New York in a challenge to the state’s new online sales tax. The law passed earlier this year requires online retailers to collect New York sales taxes on purchases shipped to state residents, even if the retailer maintains no physical presence in the state.

Fake music and video files packed with the malicious Downloader-UA.h trojan are running wild on P2P networks where they’ve infected more than a half million PCs worldwide over the past few days. According to eWEEK’s Brian Prince, The malware has been detected by security vendor McAfee on more than 530,000 computers–roughly 26 percent of the approximately 2 million scanned, according to figures posted by the company earlier today. The next most-reported malware was found on less than 6 percent of scanned PCs.

The Trojan is spreading through MP3 and MPG files disguised to look like audio or video recordings. When downloaded, users are directed to a Web site and prompted to download a file called PLAY_MP3.exe, McAfee researcher Craig Schmugar reported in the company’s blog. And with Downloader-UA.h, truly nobody is safe: In addition to a number of current pop and hip hop hits, the list of infected files includes bogus versions of the theme from the Godfather, the Portuguese version of the Lion King and the perennial favorite “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.” The horror.