2007 CRN Channel Champions: Software

NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS

Microsoft cinched the 2007 CRN Channel Champions crown in the network operating systems category on the strength of its channel programs. The build-up to Vista's recent launch didn't hurt, either.

Microsoft pulled off an overall score of 77.4, 11.9 points ahead of last year's winner, Sun Microsystems. Red Hat was second with 65.6, Sun third with 65.5 and Novell was fourth with 63.1. Microsoft won handily across all three types of criteria, with double-digit leads for both the program and support and financial categories.

Solution providers need access to the latest tools and software and Microsoft is proactive, flooding the channel with Microsoft software, said Ron Herardian, CEO of Global System Services, Mountain View, Calif. That's in contrast with Sun, which earned the second highest score in this criterion, he said. "While it's possible to get the latest Sun tools, it's not as up-front. They don't push it. Microsoft really pushes," he said.

Microsoft's 8.2-point lead over Red Hat in the technology category was narrower than the other categories, with Microsoft scoring 87.7 to Red Hat's 79.5. Vista's oft-touted security features and improved graphics strengthened Microsoft's position, especially on the product quality and reliability rating. Sun had the next highest score for that rating.

Over the past year, it helped that Microsoft improved its communication with the channel, said Tim Marshall, vice president of technology at Neudesic, a Microsoft Gold partner in Irvine, Calif. "Before, nobody [partners] had any idea what was going on with Microsoft," he said. Integrating Microsoft's sales teams with Neudesic's own teams has harmonized and strengthened the solution provider's sales pitch, he added.

Microsoft's continued market dominance secured the financial category. Survey respondents reported that the Windows operating system still accounts for the lion's share of their operating system sales.

Red Hat, Sun and Novell earned similar scores across the criteria considered for the network operating systems category, although third-place Sun did marginally better than Red Hat in the program and support category. The directory support criterion was the exception: Last year, Novell edged out Sun in this area, and it maintained its lead this year.

—Fahmida Y. Rashid

VENDOR TECHNICAL PROGRAM & SUPPORT FINANCIAL OVERALL Microsoft 87.7 78.0 68.1 77.4 Red Hat 79.5 67.3 52.5 65.6 Sun 78.6 68.6 51.5 65.5 Novell 77.9 66.0 47.9 63.1

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