Compaq, Microsoft Unveil Joint Certification For Service Providers

Compaq Computer Microsoft

Under the Joint Certification Program, introduced Tuesday, the two vendors are combining Microsoft's Gold Certification program and Compaq's SP Signature certification program. In addition to AIPs, MSPs and ASPs, the new program also covers service providers focused on Microsoft's .Net hosted services, hosted exchange, e-commerce and Office online.

Compaq's Global Services consultants perform the on-site assessment. The certification evaluates and tests a service provider's environment in six main areas: operations (including people and processes), hardware (including servers and storage), the network, the operating system, applications and databases and IT services management.

With a joint certification process, service providers stand to save up to $30,000 over the cost of undergoing separate evaluations from Compaq and Microsoft, said Sean Hehir, managing director of Compaq's service provider unit. "The real cost savings to us and the partners is in the time and effort we save with the joint off-site and on-site examination," he said.

Compaq and Microsoft customers have been asking the vendors to help them identify partners that excel at delivering services, Hehir said. "Customers are saying, 'Give us a degree of confidence that the service provider can deliver on those services,' " he said. "So this certification is done specifically around the quality of their services and their ability to deliver services."

Genuity and divine Tuesday became the first service providers to achieve the new joint certification, which at press time hadn't been given a specific designation.

"We have gone through many certification programs, and this one is by far the most comprehensive and the most rigorous," said Rob McKinney, vice president of product strategy at Genuity. "I don't see any other vendors out there doing this--and doing this jointly."

Last week, Genuity and divine also were named Microsoft Gold Certified AIP partners.

Compaq's Hehir said partners aren't required to be Compaq- or Microsoft-exclusive to participate in the new certification program. Only partners that achieve the joint certification will be referred to Compaq and Microsoft customers seeking hosted offerings, he said.

Microsoft executives couldn't be reached for comment.