Microsoft, Compaq Roll Out Joint Certification Program

Microsoft Compaq Computer

Last week, Microsoft and Compaq introduced the Joint Certification Program to assess the capabilities of application infrastructure providers (AIPs) and others offering hosted application and network management services.

Calling the joint certification a "first of its kind," Talla Kebe, Microsoft certification manager, said the vendor would consider collaboration on other joint programs.

"While we have no current plans for additional joint certification programs, as we learn from this program launch and continue discussions with our partners, we would consider collaboration on other joint programs," Kebe said.

The program, which combines Microsoft's Gold Certification and Compaq's Signature SP Certification, is an in-depth assessment of service providers' capabilities in six main areas: the operations environment, including people and processes; hardware, including servers and storage; the network; operating system; applications and databases; and IT services management.

Compaq executives said they were driven to form this program due to customer concerns.

"Customers are saying, 'Give us a degree of confidence that the service provider can deliver on those services,' so this certification is done specifically around the quality of their services and their ability to deliver services," said Sean Hehir, managing director of Compaq's service provider unit.

The added benefit for partners is a savings of $30,000 when they undergo an assessment of both their Microsoft and Compaq environments at once, in addition to the time saved by the vendors and partners Hehir said.

Partners also receive preferential leads and marketing support from Microsoft and Compaq.

Partners said the benefit to them is the ability to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the hosted services provider market by having a guideline in place as to how solutions should be developed and delivered.

"I've seen a lot of confusion in this [hosted services space because the key software and hardware vendors have not had strategies that completely align," said Jason Donahue, president and CEO of Apptix, a private-label hosted services provider spun out of TeleComputing this month. "We are right now developing new Microsoft-Compaq solutions and guidance would be very beneficial."

Service providers Genuity and divine have already passed the joint assessment, which is performed by Compaq Global Services professionals.

Although Compaq performs the actual assessment, Microsoft is still closely involved in the review and approval of service providers capabilities, Kebe said.