Citrix Preps March Launch For Portal Training Program

Under the Fast Track 500 program, Citrix plans to train about 500 partners on the product, code-named South Beach, prior to its anticipated launch late in the second quarter.

"Our goals in 2002 for South Beach are very straightforward: to release it on time to a trained channel and to get revenue traction [that will benefit us in the second half of the year," said Mark Templeton, president and CEO of Citrix, based here, last month during a conference call.

One solution provider said customer anticipation for the product's release is already building.

"We have a client that is really interested in doing an entire portal with it, and they're interested in getting it even before it launches," said Jim Little, general manager at GTC Systems, a San Diego-based solution provider that plans to join the Fast Track 500 program.

The client plans to use the portal internally and also to provide its customers with secure, customized access to its services, Little said.

Health-care and manufacturing clients have also expressed interest in South Beach, he said.

South Beach utilizes a menu-driven setup approach that should significantly shorten its implementation time compared to competitive products, said Myron Bari, president and CEO of IPM, a New York-based consulting firm that has already been accepted into the program.

"The entire design of the product is done so you can get something functional within a matter of days instead of weeks or even months," said Bari. Additional revenue opportunities should come from customizing South Beach for clients, he said.

Citrix plans to launch the program at its Solutions Summit 2002, March 4-7, in Hollywood, Fla.